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The effect of section thickness on MR lesion detection and quantification in multiple sclerosis
P D Molyneux1, N Tubridy, G J Parker
1NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|November 5, 1998
Summary
Reducing MRI section thickness improves multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion detection and measurement precision. Thinner slices enhance sensitivity for detecting MS brain lesions, aiding in treatment trial assessments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and monitoring rely heavily on Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging.
- Accurate quantification of brain lesion volume is crucial for assessing disease progression and treatment efficacy in MS.
- Variations in MR imaging parameters, such as section thickness, can influence lesion detection and volume measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of varying section thicknesses on the detection and measurement of brain lesion volume in patients with MS.
- To assess how changes in section thickness affect the precision of lesion volume quantification using MR imaging.
- To determine the optimal section thickness for sensitive and reproducible MS lesion measurement.
Main Methods:
- Eight patients diagnosed with MS were scanned using a 1.5-T MR system.
- A 3D fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FAIR) sequence was employed to acquire contiguous axial brain images.
- Image datasets were acquired at section thicknesses of 5 mm, 3 mm, and 1 mm, with repeat scans to assess reproducibility. Lesion volumes were measured using semiautomated local thresholding.
Main Results:
- A reduction in section thickness from 5 mm to 3 mm resulted in an 8% significant increase in detected lesion volume.
- While 1 mm sections detected more lesions, the total lesion volume did not increase, indicating a non-linear relationship.
- Decreasing section thickness improved scan-rescan reproducibility of lesion volume measurements, albeit with increased analysis time.
Conclusions:
- Acquiring very thin MR sections enhances the sensitivity and precision of brain lesion measurements in MS patients.
- Further research is needed to determine the impact of these findings on sample size calculations for MS clinical trials.
- Optimizing section thickness in MR imaging is vital for accurate MS lesion quantification and longitudinal studies.