Comparison between synthetic and conventional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with multiple sclerosis and...

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Neuroimaging
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background:

• Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) utilizes a multiple-dynamic, multiple-echo sequence to generate various weighted images in a reduced timeframe.
• Conventional MRI sequences are the current standard for neuroimaging, particularly in conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively and qualitatively compare SyMRI with conventional MRI in MS patients and controls.
• To assess contrast (C), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between synthetic and conventional MRI sequences.
• To evaluate lesion detection and lesion-to-white matter contrast in MS patients using SyMRI.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 51 patients underwent both synthetic and conventional MRI scans.
• Qualitative assessment of image sequences was performed by two neuroradiologists.
• Quantitative analysis included measuring C, CNR, and SNR in defined regions of interest (CSF, white matter, grey matter).
• Lesion counts were compared between conventional and synthetic T2-FLAIR images in MS patients.

Main Results:

• Synthetic T2-FLAIR images were found to be qualitatively inferior to conventional ones.
• Contrast (C) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were significantly higher in synthetic T1W and T2W images compared to conventional images.
• Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was consistently lower across all synthetic sequences compared to conventional MRI.
• No significant difference was noted in CNR for T2-FLAIR sequences.

Conclusions:

• SyMRI demonstrates potential for clinical application due to comparable diagnostic accuracy and significantly reduced scanning time.
• Synthetic T1W and T2W images show promising results for improved contrast.
• Further optimization of synthetic T2-FLAIR sequences is necessary to enhance their diagnostic utility.