Türk Nöroloji Dergisi (Oct 2007)
Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain in Multiple Sclerosis
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: MRI. Diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) offers the possibility of differentiating such lesions from ischaemic lesions by using objective data as well as determining active MS plaque in particular. OBJECTIVES: This present study investigated diffusion alterations in MS patients in plaques and the normal-appearing white matter. METHODS: A total of 45 patients had been diagnosed with MS according to Mc Donald’s criteria were enrolled in the study. Cranial MRI examination consisted of number of lesions in PD/T2 transverse, T2 sagittal, T2 FLAIR transverse, diffusion-weighted MRI and ADC mapping, heavy IR-T1 transverse, T1 transverse, postcontrast T1 transverse imaging, incidence ratio in all sequences as well as assessment of contrasting characteristics. Visual characteristics of the lesions were determined in diffusion-weighted MRI and ADC mapping. RESULTS: Mean ADC values measured in the normal appearing white matter according to clinical forms were as follows: 0.79 ± 0.15x10-3 mm2/sec for RRMS, 0.8 ± 0.15x10-3 mm2/sec PPMS and 0.82 ± 0.15x10-3 mm2/sec for SPMS. The differences between clinical forms in terms of mean ADC values measured in the normal appearing white matter were statistically significant (p0.05). Mean ADC values measured in T1 hypointense lesions were 1.106 ± 0.15x10-3 mm2/sec for RRMS, 1.119 ± 0.15x10-3 mm2/sec for PPMS and 1.132 ± 0.15x10-3 mm2/sec for SPMS. The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: DW-MRI revealed increased diffusion in chronic lesions, acute lesions and normal-appearing white matter in all patients in this present study. Mean ADC value established in acute lesions was 1.062± 0.15x10-3 mm2/sec, while it was 1.118 ± 0,15x10-3 mm2/sec in T1 hypointense lesions and 0.985 ± 0.12x10-3 mm2/sec in T1 isointense lesions. Significantly higher ADC values in T1 hypointense lesions and acute lesions indicated more severe tissue damage in those lesions
