title: The relevance of cortical lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies suggest that cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) substantially contribute to clinical disease severity. The present study aimed at investigating clinical, neuroanatomical, and cognitive correlates of these cortical lesions with a novel approach, i.e. by comparing two samples of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, one group with and the other without cortical lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-resolution structural MRI was acquired from 42 RRMS patients and 43 controls (HC). The patient group was dichotomized based on the presence versus absence of DIR-hyperintense cortex-involving lesions, resulting in a cortical lesion group (CL, n = 32) and a non-cortical lesion group (nCL, n =10). Cognitive functioning was assessed in all participants with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, covering mnestic, executive, and attentional functions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highest densities of cortical lesions in the CL group were observed in the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus. Relative to HC, patients with cortical lesions - but not those without - showed significant global cortical thinning and mnestic deficits. The two patient groups did not differ from each other regarding demographic and basic disease characteristics such as EDSS scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The appearance of cortical lesions in MS patients is associated with cortical thinning as well as mnestic deficits, which might be key characteristics of a 'cortically dominant' MS subtype.
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. olivia.geisseler@usz.ch.|Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/1, 8050, Zürich, Switzerland. olivia.geisseler@usz.ch.
authors: Olivia
authors: O
authors: Geisseler
authors: Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Center, Luzerner Kantonsspital/State Hospital, 6000, Lucerne 16, Switzerland.
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Pflugshaupt
authors: URPP Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Andreasstrasse 15/Box 2, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Ladina
authors: L
authors: Bezzola
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Katja
authors: K
authors: Reuter
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Weller
authors: Medizinisch Radiologisches Institut, Bahnhofplatz 3, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Schuknecht
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Brugger
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.|Department of Neurology, Helios-Klinik Hagen-Ambrock, Ambrocker Weg 60, 58091, Hagen, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Linnebank
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Cortical lesions; Memory; Multiple sclerosis