title: Microstructural MR Imaging Techniques in Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: Due to its sensitivity in the detection of focal white matter (WM) lesions, MR imaging has become a paraclinical tool central to diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) and monitoring its evolution. Despite this, the correlation between patients' clinical status and conventional MR imaging measures is weak to moderate. Quantitative MR imaging-based techniques, such as magnetization transfer and diffusion tensor imaging, have a higher specificity toward the heterogeneous pathologic substrates of MS than MR imaging. This article discusses the main insights derived from the application of such MR imaging-based techniques to define MS pathophysiology and to quantify the progressive accumulation of structural damage in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan 20132, Italy. Electronic address: filippi.massimo@hsr.it.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan 20132, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Preziosa
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan 20132, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rocca
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Diffusion tensor; Gray matter; MR imaging; Magnetization transfer; Multiple sclerosis; Optic nerve; Spinal cord; White matter