title: Higher sensitivity in the detection of inflammatory brain lesions in patients with clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis using high field MRI: an intraindividual comparison of 1.5 T with 3.0 T.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivities in the detection of inflammatory lesions in patients with clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis at 3.0 T and 1.5 T. MR imaging of 40 patients at both field strengths was performed in separate sessions including contiguous axial slices of T2 turbo spin-echo (T2 TSE), fluid-attenuated-inversion-recovery (FLAIR) and pre- and postcontrast T1 spin-echo (T1 SE). Inflammatory lesions > 3 mm in size were counted and categorized according to their anatomic location. Lesion conspicuity was assessed on a five-point scale. At 3.0 T, 13% more white matter lesions could be identified on the FLAIR sequence and on the T2 TSE sequence. Compared to 1.5 T 7.5% more contrast-enhancing lesions were detected at 3.0 T. The higher detection rate at 3.0 T was significant for the infratentorial (p = 0.02) and juxtacortical (p < 0.01) region on the FLAIR as well as for the infratentorial (p = 0.03), juxtacortical (p = 0.02) and periventricular (p = 0.03) region on the T2 TSE sequence. The lesion conspicuity was significantly better at 3.0 T for FLAIR and T2 TSE sequences (p<0.01; p=0.01). In conclusion, high-field MRI at 3.0 T provides a significantly higher detection rate of inflammatory brain lesions especially in the infratentorial, juxtacortical and periventricular anatomic region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany. mike.wattjes@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Mike P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Wattjes
authors.forename: Götz G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Lutterbey
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harzheim
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gieseke
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Träber
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klockgether
authors.forename: Hans H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schild
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity