MR Imaging of Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Patients Using Ultra-Small-Particle Iron Oxide and Compared with Gadolinium
V. Dousset,
B. Brochet,
M.S.A. Deloire,
L. Lagoarde,
B. Barroso,
J.-M. Caille and
K.G. Petry
From University Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Laboratory of Neurobiology of Myelin Diseases, EA 2966, Bordeaux, France
View larger version (145K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig 1. Ultra-small-particle iron oxide (USPIO)- and gadolinium-enhanced multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions on several MR imaging sequences. MR imaging 1 performed with fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) (A), T2-weighted (B), T2*-weighted (C), and magnetization transfer T1-weighted postgadolinium images (D). Some MS lesions were enhanced by gadolinium. MR imaging 2, performed 24 hours after USPIO injection, shows an uptake of USPIO in 1 lesion on FLAIR (E), turbo spin echo (TSE) T2-weighted (F), T2*-weighted (G), and T1-weighted (H) images (short arrows). Veins are clearly seen as dark signal intensity on T2*-weighted images (G) (long arrow).
| |
View larger version (165K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig 2. Mismatch of contrast agents uptake in an ultra-small-particle iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced acute multiple sclerosis (MS) plaque. MR imaging 1 T2-weighted (A) and T1-weighted postgadolinium images (B) shows a large MS lesion that was not enhanced by gadolinium. MR imaging 2 shows the USPIO uptake at the periphery of the lesion (arrows), seen as a decreased signal intensity on T2-weighted images (C) and a high signal intensity on T1-weighted images (D). According to histologic observations (Lucchinetti et al, 2000), the number of macrophages at the center of acute MS lesions is usually minor.
| |
View larger version (111K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig 3. Mismatch of contrast agent uptake in gadolinium-enhanced acute multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques. MR imaging 1 T1-weighted image (A) revealing the presence of 3 gadolinium-enhanced MS lesions (arrows). MR imaging 2 T1-weighted image (B) reveals USPIO enhancement in only one small lesion (arrow).
| |
