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Published in: European Radiology 7/2010

Open Access 01-07-2010 | Neuro

Improved in vivo detection of cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis using double inversion recovery MR imaging at 3 Tesla

Authors: Birgit Simon, Stephan Schmidt, Carsten Lukas, Jürgen Gieseke, Frank Träber, Dirk L. Knol, Winfried A. Willinek, Jeroen J. G. Geurts, Hans H. Schild, Frederik Barkhof, Mike P. Wattjes

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 7/2010

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the impact of a higher magnetic field strength of 3 Tesla (T) on the detection rate of cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, in particular using a dedicated double inversion recovery (DIR) pulse sequence.

Methods

Thirty-four patients with clinically isolated syndromes or definite MS were included. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T and 3 T, including T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and DIR sequences. All images were analysed for focal lesions categorised according to their anatomical location.

Results

The total number of detected lesions was higher at 3 T across all pulse sequences. We observed significantly higher numbers of lesions involving the cortex at 3 T using a DIR sequence. DIR at 3 T showed 192% more pure intracortical (p < 0.001) and 30% more mixed grey matter-white matter lesions (p = 0.008). No significant increase in cortical lesions could be detected on the FLAIR and T2-weighted images. Using the T2-weighted and FLAIR sequences, significantly more lesions could be detected at 3 T in the infratentorial, periventricular and juxtacortical white matter.

Conclusion

DIR brain MR imaging at 3 T substantially improves the sensitivity of the detection of cortical lesions compared with the standard magnetic field strength of 1.5 T.
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Metadata
Title
Improved in vivo detection of cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis using double inversion recovery MR imaging at 3 Tesla
Authors
Birgit Simon
Stephan Schmidt
Carsten Lukas
Jürgen Gieseke
Frank Träber
Dirk L. Knol
Winfried A. Willinek
Jeroen J. G. Geurts
Hans H. Schild
Frederik Barkhof
Mike P. Wattjes
Publication date
01-07-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 7/2010
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1705-y

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