title: Comparison of multiple sclerosis lesions at 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relative sensitivity of MR scanning for multiple sclerosis (MS) at 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3.0 T using identical acquisition conditions, as is typical of multicenter clinical trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five subjects with MS were scanned at 1.5 T and 3.0 T using fast spin echo, and T(1)-weighted SPGR with and without gadolinium contrast injections. Image data, blinded to field strength, were analyzed using automated segmentation and lesion counting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to scanning at 1.5 T, the 3.0 T scans showed a 21% increase in the number of detected contrast enhancing lesions, a 30% increase in enhancing lesion volume and a 10% increase in total lesion volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The improved detection ability using high-field MR imaging is prominent even when sequence parameters are optimized around the midfield units. Multicenter trials using both 1.5 T and 3.0 T instruments may be affected by these sensitivity differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Brain Mapping, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Sicotte
authors.forename: Rhonda R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Voskuhl
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouvier
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klutch
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mazziotta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium