Overview of imaging in multiple sclerosis and white matter disease.
MR imaging is the dominant paraclinical test for evaluating multiple sclerosis (MS) because of its exquisite sensitivity to white matter pathology. Knowledge of the signal characteristics of MS lesions, anatomic distribution of lesions, differential diagnosis, and most important, the clinical context, markedly improve the specificity of the MR examination. MR imaging findings can be used to predict future conversion to clinically definite MS before a second clinical exacerbation.
Butman
J A
JA
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Imaging Sciences Program, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. jbutman@nih.gov
Frank
J A
JA
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity