Diffuse signal abnormalities in the spinal cord in multiple sclerosis: direct postmortem in situ magnetic resonance imaging correlated with in vitro high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology.
In this study, we compared direct postmortem in situ (whole-corpse) sagittal spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (1.5T) of 7 multiple sclerosis cases with targeted high-resolution in vitro axial magnetic resonance imaging (4.7T) and histopathology. On sagittal in situ magnetic resonance imaging, 1 case had a normal spinal cord, 2 had only focal lesions, 3 had a combination of focal and diffuse abnormalities, and 1 had only diffuse abnormalities. All spinal cords showed abnormalities on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology, confirming the existence of diffuse cord changes as genuine multiple sclerosis-related abnormalities while highlighting the limited resolution of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging.
Department of Radiology, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.bergers@vumc.nl
Elisabeth
E
Bergers
Joost C J
JC
Bot
Paul
P
van der Valk
Jonas A
JA
Castelijns
Geert J
GJ
Lycklama a Nijeholt
Wouter
W
Kamphorst
Chris H
CH
Polman
Erwin L A
EL
Blezer
Klaas
K
Nicolay
Rivka
R
Ravid
Frederik
F
Barkhof
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*