VIDEO: Axial MRI better identifies extent of MS lesions in the cervical spinal cord

BOSTON – 3-Tesla axial MR imaging in patients with multiple sclerosis can reveal important information about the extent of lesions in the cervical spinal cord that differentiates milder forms of disease from progressive subtypes, according to new research presented by Dr. Hugh Kearney at the joint meeting of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.

While most MRI studies of the cervical spinal cord have used sagittal views to determine the number of lesions, axial views can show the extent of lesions and the involvement of gray matter that goes unseen with sagittal views, Dr. Kearney, a researcher at the University College London Institute of Neurology, said in a video interview.

In a study of 120 patients, Dr. Kearney and his colleagues found that this MRI technique, which used a fine resolution of 0.5-by-0.5 mm², detected extensive focal lesions involving multiple white matter columns significantly more often among patients with progressive subtypes of MS, whereas patients with relapsing remitting disease or clinically isolated syndrome tended to have lesions usually limited to a single spinal cord column. Patients with progressive subtypes also more commonly had involvement of the gray matter and diffuse abnormalities. The presence of lateral column lesions involving gray matter and the number of columns involved was an independent predictor of disability on the Expanded Disability Status Scale.

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BOSTON – 3-Tesla axial MR imaging in patients with multiple sclerosis can reveal important information about the extent of lesions in the cervical spinal cord that differentiates milder forms of disease from progressive subtypes, according to new research presented by Dr. Hugh Kearney at the joint meeting of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.

While most MRI studies of the cervical spinal cord have used sagittal views to determine the number of lesions, axial views can show the extent of lesions and the involvement of gray matter that goes unseen with sagittal views, Dr. Kearney, a researcher at the University College London Institute of Neurology, said in a video interview.

In a study of 120 patients, Dr. Kearney and his colleagues found that this MRI technique, which used a fine resolution of 0.5-by-0.5 mm², detected extensive focal lesions involving multiple white matter columns significantly more often among patients with progressive subtypes of MS, whereas patients with relapsing remitting disease or clinically isolated syndrome tended to have lesions usually limited to a single spinal cord column. Patients with progressive subtypes also more commonly had involvement of the gray matter and diffuse abnormalities. The presence of lateral column lesions involving gray matter and the number of columns involved was an independent predictor of disability on the Expanded Disability Status Scale.

[email protected]

BOSTON – 3-Tesla axial MR imaging in patients with multiple sclerosis can reveal important information about the extent of lesions in the cervical spinal cord that differentiates milder forms of disease from progressive subtypes, according to new research presented by Dr. Hugh Kearney at the joint meeting of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.

While most MRI studies of the cervical spinal cord have used sagittal views to determine the number of lesions, axial views can show the extent of lesions and the involvement of gray matter that goes unseen with sagittal views, Dr. Kearney, a researcher at the University College London Institute of Neurology, said in a video interview.

In a study of 120 patients, Dr. Kearney and his colleagues found that this MRI technique, which used a fine resolution of 0.5-by-0.5 mm², detected extensive focal lesions involving multiple white matter columns significantly more often among patients with progressive subtypes of MS, whereas patients with relapsing remitting disease or clinically isolated syndrome tended to have lesions usually limited to a single spinal cord column. Patients with progressive subtypes also more commonly had involvement of the gray matter and diffuse abnormalities. The presence of lateral column lesions involving gray matter and the number of columns involved was an independent predictor of disability on the Expanded Disability Status Scale.

[email protected]