• James M Stankiewicz, Bonnie I Glanz, Brian C Healy, Ashish Arora, Mohit Neema, Ralph H B Benedict, Zachary D Guss, Shahamat Tauhid, Guy J Buckle, Maria K Houtchens, Samia J Khoury, Howard L Weiner, Charles R G Guttmann, and Rohit Bakshi.
• Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Brookline, Massachusetts 02445, USA. jstankiewicz@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
• J Neuroimaging. 2011 Apr 1; 21 (2): e50-6.

Background/PurposeTo assess correlation between brain lesions and clinical status with 1.5T and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsBrain MRI fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequences were performed in 32 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score (mean±standard deviation) was 2±2.0 (range 0-8), disease duration 9.3±8.0 (range .8-29) years.ResultsFLAIR lesion volume (FLLV) at 3T was higher than at 1.5T (P=.01). Correlation between 1.5T FLLV and EDSS score was poor, while 3T FLLV correlated moderately and significantly (rs=.39, P=.03). When controlling for age and depression, correlations between FLLV and cognitive measures were significant at 1.5T for the Judgment of Line Orientation test (JLO) (rs=-.44, P=.05), the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (rs=-.49, P=.02), and the California Verbal Learning Test Delayed Free Recall (CVLT DR) (rs=-.44, P=.04). Correlations at 3T were also significant for these tests, but of greater magnitude: JLO (rs=-.70, P=.0005), SDMT (rs=-.73, P=.0001), CVLT DR (rs=-.061, P=.003). Additional significant correlations obtained only at 3T included the 2 second-paced auditory serial addition test (rs=-.55, P=.01), the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Delayed Free Recall (rs=-.56, P=.007), and the California Verbal Learning Test Total Recall (rs=-.42, P=.05).ConclusionMRI at 3T may boost sensitivity and improve validity in MS brain lesion assessment.Copyright © 2009 by The American Society of Neuroimaging.

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