title: Dilated Virchow-Robin spaces and multiple sclerosis: 3 T magnetic resonance study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess differences in the presence, size, number and site of dilated cerebral Virchow-Robin spaces (VRSd) between patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the inactive phase and healthy controls, and between MS patients with disabling (MSd) or nondisabling (MSnd) disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed by retrospectively analysing the 3 T magnetic resonance studies of 40 MS patients and 30 healthy subjects (matched for age, education and gender). The data were analysed with MIPAV (Medical Image Processing, Analysis and Visualisation) software to assess for VRSd and with FSL SIENA-X to measure global cerebral atrophy (GCA) expressed as brain parenchyma fraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MS patients had significantly higher VRSd number (p < 0.011), area (p < 0.0073) and volume (p < 0.0071) than controls, with a marked increase for atypical sites (p < 0.0069) without significant intragroup differences between the disease forms (MSd vs MSnd). The number and size of VRSd did not correlate with GCA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm previous reports regarding the increase in VRSd in nonactive phases of MS and support the immunological role of the VRS within the central nervous system. The lack of correlation between VRSd and the degree of GCA and their prevailing localisation in atypical sites in MS patients make VRSd a potential marker of inflammatory-demyelinating disease.
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Service, Department of Radiology, Second University of Naples, C/o CTO Viale dei Colli Aminei 21, Naples, Italy, renata.conforti@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Pietro Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Saturnino
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paccone
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caiazzo
authors.forename: Alvino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bisecco
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonavita
authors.forename: Sossio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cirillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000473:pathology