Diffusion of water in large demyelinating lesions: a follow-up study.
We studied five patients with multiple sclerosis with one plaque of demyelination more than 2 cm in diameter, using conventional and diffusion-weighted MRI, soon after the onset of symptoms and over 1-36 months. The orientationally averaged diffusion coefficient <D> was increased in all the acute lesions, and increased further during follow-up in three. There was a strong correlation between <D> and the degree of low signal on T1-weighted images. The quantitative information provided by <D> allowed delineation of different diffusion patterns in large MS lesions, that may reflect heterogeneity of the anatomical substrate.
Castriota-Scanderbeg
A
A
Department of Radiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy. scanderbeg@hsantalucia.it
Sabatini
U
U
Fasano
F
F
Floris
R
R
Fraracci
L
L
Mario
M Di
MD
Nocentini
U
U
Caltagirone
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*