title: Low field-low cost: can low-field magnetic resonance systems replace high-field magnetic resonance systems in the diagnostic assessment of multiple sclerosis patients?
abstract: As low-field MR imaging is becoming a widely used imaging technique, we aimed at a prospective assessment of differences in imaging quality between low- and high-field MR imaging in multiple sclerosis patients possibly interfering with diagnostic or therapeutic decision making. Twenty patients with clinically proven multiple sclerosis were examined with optimized imaging protocols in a 1.5- and a 0.23-T MR scanner within 48 h. Images were assessed independently by two neuroradiologists. No statistically significant interrater discrepancies were observed. A significantly lower number of white matter lesions could be identified in low-field MR imaging both on T1- and on T2-weighted images (T2: high field 700, low field 481; T1: high field 253, low field 177). A total of 114 enhancing lesions were discerned in the high-field MR imaging as opposed to 45 enhancing lesions in low-field MR imaging. Blood-brain barrier disruption was identified in 11 of 20 patients in the high-field MR imaging, but only in 4 of 20 patients in low-field MR imaging. Since a significantly lower lesion load is identified in low-field MR imaging than in high-field MR imaging, and blood-brain barrier disruption is frequently missed, caution must be exercised in interpreting a normal low-field MR imaging scan in a patient with clinical signs of multiple sclerosis and in interpreting a scan without enhancing lesions in a patient with known multiple sclerosis and clinical signs of exacerbation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Kopfklinik, University of Heidelberg, Germany. B.Ertl-Wagner@t-online.de
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Ertl-Wagner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reith
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sartor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media