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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Three-Tesla MRI does not improve the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: A multicenter study
Marloes H J Hagens1, Jessica Burggraaff2, Iris D Kilsdonk2
1From the Departments of Neurology (M.H.J.H., J.B., J.K.) and Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (I.D.K., M.L.d.V., M.P.W., F.B.), MS Centre Amsterdam, and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (B.I.L.-W.), VU University Medical Centre; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (I.D.K.), Onze Lieve Vrouwen Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre (N.C., O.C.) and Institutes of Neurology & Healthcare Engineering (F.B.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurology and Psychiatry (E.S., P.P.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Department of Neurology (M. Andelova, M. Amann) and Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology (M. Amann, J.M.L.), University Hospital Basel; Medical Image Analysis Centre (M. Amann), Basel, Switzerland; Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo (P.P.), Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy; Department of Neurology (C.O.-G.), Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain; National Institute for Health Research (O.C., F.B.), University College London Hospitals (UCLH) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), UK; Department of Neurosciences (C.G.), San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy; and Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (C.L.), St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany. m.hagens1@vumc.nl.
Higher magnetic field strength MRI (3T) detects more brain lesions in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). However, 3T MRI does not impact the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) based on McDonald criteria.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is the initial presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Diagnostic criteria for MS rely on demonstrating dissemination in space and time (DIS/DIT).
- Higher field strength MRI (3T) may improve lesion detection compared to 1.5T, but its impact on MS diagnosis is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare lesion detection between 1.5T and 3T MRI in patients with CIS.
- To determine if 3T MRI influences the fulfillment of diagnostic criteria for MS.
Main Methods:
- 66 patients with CIS and 26 healthy controls underwent 1.5T and 3T brain and spinal cord MRI.
- Lesion counts were assessed by consensus raters.
- Dissemination in space (DIS) and dissemination in time (DIT) were evaluated based on 2017 McDonald criteria.
Main Results:
- 3T MRI detected 15% more T2 brain lesions than 1.5T (p < 0.001).
- Increased detection was observed in periventricular, juxtacortical, and deep white matter lesions.
- No significant difference in spinal cord or gadolinium-enhancing lesion detection.
- 3T MRI did not increase the number of patients meeting DIS or DIT criteria.
Conclusions:
- While 3T MRI enhances T2 lesion detection in CIS, it does not alter the diagnostic yield for MS.
- The use of 3T MRI does not impact the application of McDonald diagnostic criteria for MS.
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