Spinal Cord Lesion Detection in Multiple Sclerosis Using Novel MRI Sequences

Spinal Cord Lesion Detection in Multiple Sclerosis Using Novel MRI Sequences: A Pilot Study

This study is to evaluate the sensitivity and intra-/inter-observer agreement of the averaged magnetization inversion recovery acquisitions (AMIRA) in spinal cord (SC) Multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion detection and to evaluate the additional clinical value of this sequence in clinical settings.

An averaged magnetization inversion recovery acquisitions (AMIRA) sequence was proposed for SC MRI. This MR-sequence delivers excellent contrast between the SC gray and white matter as well as between the SC and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in clinically feasible-acquisition times. Moreover, the high quality and in-plane resolution of AMIRA images allows for segmentation of the SC gray and white matter with high accuracy and reproducibility. This study is to evaluate the sensitivity and intra-/inter-observer agreement of the averaged magnetization inversion recovery acquisitions (AMIRA) in spinal cord (SC) Multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion detection and to evaluate the additional clinical value of this sequence in clinical settings.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis according to established international criteria
• Steroid free period: > 4 weeks
• Participation in the Swiss MS Cohort (SMSC) study

Exclusion Criteria:

• . History of severe (other) neurological, internal or psychiatric disease with SC affection

• MRI-related exclusion criteria (questionnaire):

  1. Paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic foreign objects in the body (especially when located close to the SC)
  2. Pacemaker
  3. Claustrophobia
  4. Pregnancy, lactation
  5. Known hypersensitivity to gadolinium-based contrast media