MR outcome parameters in multiple sclerosis: comparison of surface- based thresholding segmentation and magnetization transfer ratio histographic analysis in relation to disability (a preliminary note)

• Published in: American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR Vol. 19; no. 10; pp. 1857 - 1862
• Main Authors: van Waesberghe, JH, van Buchem, MA, Filippi, M, Castelijns, JA, Rocca, MA, van der Boom, R, Polman, CH, Barkhof, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oak Brook, IL Am Soc Neuroradiology 01.11.1998; American Society of Neuroradiology
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - pathology; Disability Evaluation; Female; Humans; Image Enhancement; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; Human; Nervous system diseases; Multiple sclerosis; Central nervous system disease; Central nervous system; Medical imagery; Evolution; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Inflammatory disease; Brain (vertebrata); Physical handicap
• ISSN: 0195-6108; 1936-959X

MR imaging is now widely used to monitor disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between disability status and existing and new MR parameters in MS patients. Forty-one patients with clinically definitive MS were studied. MR imaging included T2- and T1-weighted imaging as well as gradient-echo imaging with and without magnetization transfer contrast. We used surface-based thresholding segmentation techniques to obtain T2 and T1 lesion load, T1/T2 ratio, and several magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) lesion load parameters. MTR histographic analysis included measurements of absolute peak height (aHp), relative peak height (rHp), MTR of the peak (MTRp), mean MTR (MTRm), and MTR25, MTR50, and MTR75, relating to the integrals of the histogram at 25%, 50%, and 75%, respectively, of the total area under the curve. All MR parameters were correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, disease duration, and patient's age. Using surface-based thresholding segmentation techniques, we found relatively low correlations with EDSS. T1 lesion load and T1/T2 ratios correlated most strongly. Regarding MTR histographic parameters, EDSS correlated best with rHp but only weakly with others. Similar correlations were found with disease duration, but not with age. The best MR correlations with disability were several MTR histographic parameters. Our findings may favor the use of these MR parameters over T2 lesion load to monitor disease progression in patients with MS, findings that should be explored further in longitudinal studies.