title: Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered the most common inflammatory autoimmune neurologic disorder and the most frequent cause of nontraumatic neurologic disability in young and middle-age adults. This article reviews the basic features of its magnetic resonance (MR) imaging lesions and, primarily, the use of diffusion MR imaging, which is increasingly applied to assess patients with MS, not only to investigate plaques but also the normal-appearing white matter, gray matter, optic nerve, and spinal cord, because of its ability to detect and quantify disease-related pathologic conditions of the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Clinics CDPI and Multi-Imagem, Rua Saddock de Sá 266, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Clinic IRM, Rua Capitao Salomao 44, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Radiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. celsohygino@hotmail.com
authors.forename: L Celso
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hygino da Cruz
authors.forename: Raquel Ribeiro
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: Roberto Cortes
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barkhof
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult