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Updated: Feb 16, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Cortical and Subcortical Morphometric and Iron Changes in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and Their
Ali Al-Radaideh1, Imad Athamneh2, Hadeel Alabadi2
1Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan. ali.radaideh@hu.edu.jo.
Introduction:
This study was carried out to investigate the global and regional morphometric and iron changes in grey matter (GM) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and link them to the white matter (WM) lesions in a multimodal magnetic resonance imaging approach.
Material And Methods:
The study involved 30 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients along with 30 age-matched healthy controls (HC) who were scanned on a 3T Siemens Trio system. The scanning protocol included a 3D, high resolution T1, T2, and T2*-weighted sequences. The T1-w images were used in FreeSurfer for cortical reconstruction and volumetric segmentation, while T2-w images were used to extract the WM T2 lesions; however, iron and magnetic susceptibility were calculated from the phase data of the T2*-w sequence. Surface-based analyses were performed in FreeSurfer to investigate the regional cortical morphometric changes and their correlations with the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), WM T2 lesions load, cortical iron deposition and magnetic susceptibility.
Results:
Significant differences were detected between the RRMS patients and HC for all cortical and subcortical morphometric changes. The EDSS and T2 lesion load showed weak to moderate correlation with the reduced cortical morphometric measurements, increased cortical magnetic susceptibility and iron concentration. All deep grey matter (dGM) volumes showed a significant strong positive correlation with the cortical surface area and volume in RRMS patients and HC.
Conclusions:
Grey matter is very much involved in the RRMS and cortical morphometric changes occur in a non-uniform pattern and are very likely to be associated with cortical iron deposition and magnetic susceptibility, dGM atrophy, WM T2 lesion load, and disability.
Insights
Grey matter changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) are widespread and linked to iron buildup, white matter lesions, and disability. These morphometric alterations in grey matter (GM) and deep grey matter (dGM) are significant in MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) pathology.
- Investigating GM morphometry and iron changes in MS is crucial.
- Understanding the link between GM changes and WM lesions is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate global and regional morphometric and iron changes in MS grey matter.
- To correlate these GM changes with white matter lesions.
- To utilize a multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach.
Main Methods:
- 30 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients and 30 healthy controls (HC) underwent 3T MRI.
- T1-w, T2-w, and T2*-w sequences were used for volumetric segmentation, lesion load, and iron/susceptibility mapping.
- FreeSurfer and surface-based analyses assessed cortical morphometry and correlations with clinical data (EDSS) and MRI findings.
Main Results:
- Significant cortical and subcortical morphometric differences were found between RRMS patients and HC.
- EDSS and T2 lesion load correlated with reduced cortical morphometry and increased iron/susceptibility.
- Deep grey matter (dGM) volumes strongly correlated with cortical surface area and volume in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Grey matter is significantly involved in RRMS, exhibiting non-uniform morphometric changes.
- These changes are associated with cortical iron deposition, magnetic susceptibility, dGM atrophy, WM lesions, and disability.
- Multimodal MRI reveals complex interrelationships between GM and WM pathology in MS.
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