Evaluation of Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity by Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging Preliminary Comparison with Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of cerebral diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in comparison with contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging. We reviewed T2-weighted spin-echo (SE), fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR), contrast-enhanced T1-weighted SE and echo-planar diffusion-weighted images (DWIs) obtained in ten patients with definite MS on 12 occasions.

In total, 83 plaques were demonstrated on T2-weighted SE and/or FLAIR images. Thirteen of these plaques showed enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on DWIs. Five non-enhancing plaques showed hyperintensity on DWIs. Diffusion-weighted imaging, which provides information based on pathophysiology different from contrast-enhanced imaging, is a potential supplementary technique for characterizing MS plaques.

Keywords

multiple sclerosis diffusion-weighted MR contrast-enhanced MR

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