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Dynamic Expansion and Contraction of Multiple Sclerosis T2-Weighted Hyperintense Lesions Are Present below the
Darin T Okuda1,2, Tatum M Moog3,2, Morgan McCreary3,2
1From the Department of Neurology, Neuroinnovation Program, Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Imaging Program (D.T.O., T.M.M., M.M., M.A.P., K.W.B.), The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas darin.okuda@UTsouthwestern.edu.
Background And Purpose:
The study of T2-weighted hyperintense lesions resulting from autoimmune inflammatory injury and associated volumes within the CNS remains fundamental to the diagnosis and disease surveillance of MS. We investigated the dynamic changes of individual T2-weighted hyperintense MS lesions on MRI and hypothesized that variations may be present below the threshold of visual perception when evaluating longitudinal data.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective study was performed of people with MS, incorporating data from 3 consecutive MRI time points acquired within a single academic center. All included MRI studies lacked formal imaging interpretations of newly enlarging or contracting T2-weighted hyperintensities. Well-defined, noncoalescing, individual T2-weighted hyperintense lesions were targeted. A total of 8-12 lesions were randomly selected in a blinded fashion at MRI time point 1 and 3D lesion volumes were followed over MRI time points 2 and 3. The impact of treatment on lesion expansion and relationship to brain MRI advancement, patient-reported progression of disease, and physician-identified progression was also studied.
Results:
The study cohort comprised 115 people (81 (70.4%) women; mean disease duration of 9.36 years [standard deviation: 7.72 years]) who were primarily White (79.1%). A total of 1426 focal T2-weighted hyperintense MS lesions were identified on MRI time point 1 and longitudinally followed over MRI time points 2 and 3. In the evaluation of raw changes in individual T2-weighted hyperintense lesion volumes from MRI time point 1 to MRI time point 2, a similar number of individuals were observed with predominantly expanding (49/115; 42.6%) or contracting (51/115; 44.3%) lesions. However, most lesions expanded in volume (48/115; 41.7%) versus those that contracted (45/115; 39.1%) when evaluating MRI time point 3 to time point 1. Those individuals not on active treatment had a 67.15% reduction in the odds of more individual lesions predominantly contracting in volume relative to those on low-efficacy disease modifying therapy treatment (95% CI = [-83.89% to -33.01%], P = .0008) and 74.02% reduction relative to high-efficacy treatment individuals (95% CI = [-87.37% to -46.56%], P < .0001).
Conclusions:
Dynamic changes in T2-weighted hyperintense lesions are abundant, occurring below the threshold of visual perception and are present more frequently in untreated individuals.
Insights
Subtle changes in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) T2-weighted lesions occur frequently, often below visual detection. Untreated individuals show more lesion contraction, highlighting treatment impacts on MS lesion dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Immunology
Background:
- T2-weighted hyperintense lesions are key indicators in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and monitoring.
- Understanding lesion volume changes is crucial for disease surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate dynamic changes in individual T2-weighted hyperintense MS lesions on MRI.
- To determine if lesion volume variations occur below the threshold of visual perception over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 115 patients with MS and 1426 T2-weighted lesions across 3 MRI time points.
- 3D lesion volumes were tracked longitudinally, with a focus on individual, non-coalescing lesions.
- Impact of treatment on lesion expansion/contraction and correlation with disease progression was assessed.
Main Results:
- Individual lesion volumes showed dynamic changes, with similar numbers of expanding and contracting lesions between time points 1 and 2.
- Between time points 1 and 3, more lesions expanded (41.7%) than contracted (39.1%).
- Individuals not on active treatment had significantly higher odds of lesion contraction compared to those on low- or high-efficacy therapies.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic changes in T2-weighted MS lesions are common and often undetectable by visual inspection.
- Lesion volume changes are more frequent in untreated individuals, suggesting treatment influences lesion dynamics.
