The contribution of magnetic resonance imaging to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
Abstract
MRI is very sensitive in showing MS lesions throughout the CNS. Using MRI for diagnostic purposes, however useful, is a complex issue because of limited specificity of findings and a variety of options as to when, how, and which patients to examine. Comparability of data and a common view regarding the impact of MRI are needed. Following a review of the typical appearance and pattern of MS lesions including differential diagnostic considerations, we suggest economic MRI examination protocols for the brain and spine. Recommendations for referral to MRI consider the need to avoid misdiagnosis and the probability of detecting findings of diagnostic relevance. We also suggest MRI classes of evidence for MS to determine the diagnostic weight of findings and their incorporation into the clinical evaluation. These proposals should help to optimize and standardize the use of MRI in the diagnosis of MS.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Brain MRI in MS typically shows multifocal T2-hyperintense white matter lesions in characteristic locations: periventricular (including the corpus callosum), juxtacortical (abutting the cerebral cortex) and infratentorial regions.
“Brain MRI in MS typically shows multifocal T2-hyperintense white matter lesions (Figure 1) in characteristic locations: periventricular (including the corpus callosum), juxtacortical (abutting the cerebral cortex) and infratentorial regions.9”
From Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: progress and challenges (2017) · cites this paper as [9]
Brain lesions in MS are typically small (<1cm diameter) and ovoid with a homogenous signal on T2-weighted sequences.
“Brain lesions in MS are typically small (<1cm diameter) and ovoid with a homogenous signal on T2-weighted sequences.9”
From Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: progress and challenges (2017) · cites this paper as [9]
The citation lists haven’t been fetched yet
References 66 · Cited by 287
- Authors
- Fazekas, F., Barkhof, F., Filippi, M., Grossman, R. I., Li, D. K. B., McDonald, W. I., McFarland, H. F., Paty, D. W., Simon, J. H., Wolinsky, J. S., & Miller, D. H.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Venue
- Neurology
- Published
- 1999-08
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 448-448
- ISSN
- 0028-3878 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-632X
- OpenAlex
- W1966298565
- Cited by
- 287
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 3.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
- Keywords
- multiple sclerosis, magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic imaging, MS lesions, differential diagnosis, brain MRI, spinal MRI, diagnostic criteria
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Multiple Sclerosis
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
