title: Magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of unknown origin affecting the central nervous system. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an increasingly important role in its diagnosis and further monitoring of disease progress.
  
  
  METHODS
  the typical MRI appearance of MS on conventional MRI sequences and current diagnostic criteria for MS are discussed. Advanced imaging techniques are reviewed with respect to application in MS. Finally, the atypical variants of MS are briefly reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  although MRI is not intended and will not replace clinical assessment in MS, the recognized MRI criteria may aid in establishing an earlier and more accurate diagnosis of MS in the context of a clinical suspicion or clinically isolated syndrome. In addition, MRI might contribute to rule out differential diagnoses for MS. Moreover, MRI may be used to monitor the evolution of MS and in pharmaceutical trials. Advanced imaging techniques might, in the future, further characterize MS lesion subtypes and potentially guide tailored therapy.
authors.affiliation: ServiceNeuro-Diagnostique et Neuro-Interventionnel DISIM, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. sven.haller@hcuge.com
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Vitor Mendes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Patrice H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lalive
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chofflon
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Karl Olof
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Lövblad
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*