title: Brain MRI lesion load at 1.5T and 3T versus clinical status in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess correlation between brain lesions and clinical status with 1.5T and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Brain MRI fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequences were performed in 32 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score (mean±standard deviation) was 2±2.0 (range 0-8), disease duration 9.3±8.0 (range .8-29) years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FLAIR lesion volume (FLLV) at 3T was higher than at 1.5T (P=.01). Correlation between 1.5T FLLV and EDSS score was poor, while 3T FLLV correlated moderately and significantly (rs=.39, P=.03). When controlling for age and depression, correlations between FLLV and cognitive measures were significant at 1.5T for the Judgment of Line Orientation test (JLO) (rs=-.44, P=.05), the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (rs=-.49, P=.02), and the California Verbal Learning Test Delayed Free Recall (CVLT DR) (rs=-.44, P=.04). Correlations at 3T were also significant for these tests, but of greater magnitude: JLO (rs=-.70, P=.0005), SDMT (rs=-.73, P=.0001), CVLT DR (rs=-.061, P=.003). Additional significant correlations obtained only at 3T included the 2 second-paced auditory serial addition test (rs=-.55, P=.01), the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Delayed Free Recall (rs=-.56, P=.007), and the California Verbal Learning Test Total Recall (rs=-.42, P=.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI at 3T may boost sensitivity and improve validity in MS brain lesion assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Brookline, Massachusetts 02445, USA. jstankiewicz@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stankiewicz
authors.forename: Bonnie I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Glanz
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neema
authors.forename: Ralph H B
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: Zachary D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Guss
authors.forename: Shahamat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tauhid
authors.forename: Guy J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Buckle
authors.forename: Maria K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Houtchens
authors.forename: Samia J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: Howard L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: Charles R G
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Guttmann
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires