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Brain MR post-gadolinium contrast in multiple sclerosis: the role of magnetization transfer and image subtraction in detecting more enhancing lesions

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Abstract

Our purpose was to evaluate the role of magnetization transfer and image subtraction in detecting more enhancing lesions in brain MR imaging of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Thirty-one MS patients underwent MR imaging of the brain with T1-weighted spin echo sequences without and with magnetization transfer (MT) using a 1.5 T imager. Both sequences were acquired before and after intravenous injection of a paramagnetic contrast agent. Subtraction images in T1-weighted sequences were obtained by subtracting the pre-contrast images from the post-contrast ones. A significant difference was found between the numbers of enhanced areas in post-gadolinium T1-weighted images without and with MT (p=0.020). The post-gadolinium T1-weighted images with MT allowed the detection of an increased (13) number of enhancing lesions compared with post-gadolinium T1-weighted images without MT. A significant difference was also found between the numbers of enhanced areas in post-gadolinium T1-weighted images without MT and subtraction images without MT (p=0.020). The subtraction images without MT allowed the detection of an increased (10) number of enhancing lesions compared with post-gadolinium T1-weighted images without MT. Magnetization transfer contrast and subtraction techniques appear to be the simplest and least time-consuming applications to improve the conspicuity and detection of contrast-enhancing lesions in patients with MS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, “Aretaieion” Hospital,University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece

    M. M. Gavra, A. D. Gouliamos & L. J. Vlahos

  2. 10 Gumerkon Street, 156 69, Athens, Greece

    M. M. Gavra

  3. Department of Neurology, “Eginiteion” Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece

    C. Voumvourakis & C. Sfagos

Authors
  1. M. M. Gavra
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  2. C. Voumvourakis
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  3. A. D. Gouliamos
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  4. C. Sfagos
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  5. L. J. Vlahos
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Correspondence to M. M. Gavra.

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Gavra, M.M., Voumvourakis, C., Gouliamos, A.D. et al. Brain MR post-gadolinium contrast in multiple sclerosis: the role of magnetization transfer and image subtraction in detecting more enhancing lesions. Neuroradiology 46, 205–210 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-003-1146-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-003-1146-2

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