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Bagnato F, Sati P, Hemond CC, Elliott C, Gauthier SA, Harrison DM, Mainero C, Oh J, Pitt D, Shinohara RT, Smith SA, Trapp B, Azevedo CJ, Calabresi PA, Henry RG, Laule C, Ontaneda D, Rooney WD, Sicotte NL, Reich DS, Absinta M. Imaging chronic active lesions in multiple sclerosis: a consensus statement. Brain 2024; 147:2913-2933. [PMID: 38226694 PMCID: PMC11370808 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic active lesions (CAL) are an important manifestation of chronic inflammation in multiple sclerosis and have implications for non-relapsing biological progression. In recent years, the discovery of innovative MRI and PET-derived biomarkers has made it possible to detect CAL, and to some extent quantify them, in the brain of persons with multiple sclerosis, in vivo. Paramagnetic rim lesions on susceptibility-sensitive MRI sequences, MRI-defined slowly expanding lesions on T1-weighted and T2-weighted scans, and 18-kDa translocator protein-positive lesions on PET are promising candidate biomarkers of CAL. While partially overlapping, these biomarkers do not have equivalent sensitivity and specificity to histopathological CAL. Standardization in the use of available imaging measures for CAL identification, quantification and monitoring is lacking. To fast-forward clinical translation of CAL, the North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis Cooperative developed a consensus statement, which provides guidance for the radiological definition and measurement of CAL. The proposed manuscript presents this consensus statement, summarizes the multistep process leading to it, and identifies the remaining major gaps in knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Bagnato
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Department of Neurology, Nashville VA Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Pascal Sati
- Neuroimaging Program, Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Christopher C Hemond
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | | | - Susan A Gauthier
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Daniel M Harrison
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Neurology, Baltimore VA Medical Center, VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Caterina Mainero
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jiwon Oh
- Division of Neurology, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada
| | - David Pitt
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Russell T Shinohara
- Penn Statistics in Imaging and Visualization Endeavor, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Seth A Smith
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Bruce Trapp
- Department on Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Christina J Azevedo
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - Peter A Calabresi
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Roland G Henry
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Daniel Ontaneda
- Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - William D Rooney
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Nancy L Sicotte
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Daniel S Reich
- Translational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Martina Absinta
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Translational Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, 20132, Italy
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Tazza F, Boffa G, Schiavi S, Lapucci C, Piredda GF, Cipriano E, Zacà D, Roccatagliata L, Hilbert T, Kober T, Inglese M, Costagli M. Multiparametric Characterization and Spatial Distribution of Different MS Lesion Phenotypes. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2024; 45:1166-1174. [PMID: 38816021 PMCID: PMC11383400 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE MS lesions exhibit varying degrees of axonal and myelin damage. A comprehensive description of lesion phenotypes could contribute to an improved radiologic evaluation of smoldering inflammation and remyelination processes. This study aimed to identify in vivo distinct MS lesion types using quantitative susceptibility mapping and susceptibility mapping-weighted imaging and to characterize them through T1-relaxometry, myelin mapping, and diffusion MR imaging. The spatial distribution of lesion phenotypes in relation to ventricular CSF was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS MS lesions of 53 individuals were categorized into iso- or hypointense lesions, hyperintense lesions, and paramagnetic rim lesions, on the basis of their appearance on quantitative susceptibility mapping alone, according to published criteria, and with the additional support of susceptibility mapping-weighted imaging. Susceptibility values, T1-relaxation times, myelin and free water fractions, intracellular volume fraction, and the orientation dispersion index were compared among lesion phenotypes. The distance of the geometric center of each lesion from the ventricular CSF was calculated. RESULTS Eight hundred ninety-six MS lesions underwent the categorization process using quantitative susceptibility mapping and susceptibility mapping-weighted imaging. The novel use of susceptibility mapping-weighted images, which revealed additional microvasculature details, led us to re-allocate several lesions to different categories, resulting in a 35.6% decrease in the number of paramagnetic rim lesions, a 22.5% decrease in hyperintense lesions, and a 17.2% increase in iso- or hypointense lesions, with respect to the categorization based on quantitative susceptibility mapping only. The outcome of the categorization based on the joint use of quantitative susceptibility mapping and susceptibility mapping-weighted imaging was that 44.4% of lesions were iso- or hypointense lesions, 47.9% were hyperintense lesions, and 7.7% were paramagnetic rim lesions. A worsening gradient was observed from iso- or hypointense lesions to hyperintense lesions to paramagnetic rim lesions in T1-relaxation times, myelin water fraction, free water fraction, and intracellular volume fraction. Paramagnetic rim lesions were located closer to ventricular CSF than iso- or hypointense lesions. The volume of hyperintense lesions was associated with a more severe disease course. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative susceptibility mapping and susceptibility mapping-weighted imaging allow in vivo classification of MS lesions into different phenotypes, characterized by different levels of axonal and myelin loss and spatial distribution. Hyperintense lesions and paramagnetic rim lesions, which have the most severe microstructural damage, were more often observed in the periventricular WM and were associated with a more severe disease course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tazza
- From the Departments of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (F.T., G.B., S.S., E.C., M.I., M.C.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giacomo Boffa
- From the Departments of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (F.T., G.B., S.S., E.C., M.I., M.C.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simona Schiavi
- From the Departments of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (F.T., G.B., S.S., E.C., M.I., M.C.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Caterina Lapucci
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (C.L., L.R., M.I., M.C.), Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gian Franco Piredda
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology (G.F.P., T.H., T.K.), Siemens Healthineers International AG, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emilio Cipriano
- From the Departments of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (F.T., G.B., S.S., E.C., M.I., M.C.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Luca Roccatagliata
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (C.L., L.R., M.I., M.C.), Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences (L.R.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Tom Hilbert
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology (G.F.P., T.H., T.K.), Siemens Healthineers International AG, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology (T.H., T.K.), Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- LTS5 (T.H., T.K.), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kober
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology (G.F.P., T.H., T.K.), Siemens Healthineers International AG, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology (T.H., T.K.), Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- LTS5 (T.H., T.K.), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matilde Inglese
- From the Departments of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (F.T., G.B., S.S., E.C., M.I., M.C.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (C.L., L.R., M.I., M.C.), Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mauro Costagli
- From the Departments of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (F.T., G.B., S.S., E.C., M.I., M.C.), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (C.L., L.R., M.I., M.C.), Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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Hemond CC, Gaitán MI, Absinta M, Reich DS. New Imaging Markers in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders: Smoldering Inflammation and the Central Vein Sign. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 2024; 34:359-373. [PMID: 38942521 PMCID: PMC11213979 DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Concepts of multiple sclerosis (MS) biology continue to evolve, with observations such as "progression independent of disease activity" challenging traditional phenotypic categorization. Iron-sensitive, susceptibility-based imaging techniques are emerging as highly translatable MR imaging sequences that allow for visualization of at least 2 clinically useful biomarkers: the central vein sign and the paramagnetic rim lesion (PRL). Both biomarkers demonstrate high specificity in the discrimination of MS from other mimics and can be seen at 1.5 T and 3 T field strengths. Additionally, PRLs represent a subset of chronic active lesions engaged in "smoldering" compartmentalized inflammation behind an intact blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher C Hemond
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center and University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - María I Gaitán
- Translational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Martina Absinta
- Translational Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel S Reich
- Translational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Rimkus CDM, Otsuka FS, Nunes DM, Chaim KT, Otaduy MCG. Central Vein Sign and Paramagnetic Rim Lesions: Susceptibility Changes in Brain Tissues and Their Implications for the Study of Multiple Sclerosis Pathology. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1362. [PMID: 39001252 PMCID: PMC11240827 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14131362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common acquired inflammatory and demyelinating disease in adults. The conventional diagnostic of MS and the follow-up of inflammatory activity is based on the detection of hyperintense foci in T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lesions with brain-blood barrier (BBB) disruption in the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma. However, T2/FLAIR hyperintense lesions are not specific to MS and the MS pathology and inflammatory processes go far beyond focal lesions and can be independent of BBB disruption. MRI techniques based on the magnetic susceptibility properties of the tissue, such as T2*, susceptibility-weighted images (SWI), and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) offer tools for advanced MS diagnostic, follow-up, and the assessment of more detailed features of MS dynamic pathology. Susceptibility-weighted techniques are sensitive to the paramagnetic components of biological tissues, such as deoxyhemoglobin. This capability enables the visualization of brain parenchymal veins. Consequently, it presents an opportunity to identify veins within the core of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions, thereby affirming their venocentric characteristics. This advancement significantly enhances the accuracy of the differential diagnostic process. Another important paramagnetic component in biological tissues is iron. In MS, the dynamic trafficking of iron between different cells, such as oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and microglia, enables the study of different stages of demyelination and remyelination. Furthermore, the accumulation of iron in activated microglia serves as an indicator of latent inflammatory activity in chronic MS lesions, termed paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs). PRLs have been correlated with disease progression and degenerative processes, underscoring their significance in MS pathology. This review will elucidate the underlying physical principles of magnetic susceptibility and their implications for the formation and interpretation of T2*, SWI, and QSM sequences. Additionally, it will explore their applications in multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in detecting the central vein sign (CVS) and PRLs, and assessing iron metabolism. Furthermore, the review will discuss their role in advancing early and precise MS diagnosis and prognostic evaluation, as well as their utility in studying chronic active inflammation and degenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina de Medeiros Rimkus
- Department of Radiology and Oncology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), Sao Paulo 05403-010, SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Magnetic Resonance-44 (LIM 44), University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
- MS Center Amsterdam, Anatomy and Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Instituto D'Or de Ensino e Pesquisa (IDOR), Sao Paulo 01401-002, SP, Brazil
| | - Fábio Seiji Otsuka
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Magnetic Resonance-44 (LIM 44), University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Douglas Mendes Nunes
- Department of Radiology and Oncology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), Sao Paulo 05403-010, SP, Brazil
- Grupo Fleury, Sao Paulo 04701-200, SP, Brazil
| | - Khallil Taverna Chaim
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Magnetic Resonance-44 (LIM 44), University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Concepción Garcia Otaduy
- Department of Radiology and Oncology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), Sao Paulo 05403-010, SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Magnetic Resonance-44 (LIM 44), University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
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Nistri R, Ianniello A, Pozzilli V, Giannì C, Pozzilli C. Advanced MRI Techniques: Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Multiple Sclerosis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1120. [PMID: 38893646 PMCID: PMC11171945 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14111120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain and spinal cord imaging plays a pivotal role in aiding clinicians with the diagnosis and monitoring of multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, the significance of magnetic resonance imaging in MS extends beyond its clinical utility. Advanced imaging modalities have facilitated the in vivo detection of various components of MS pathogenesis, and, in recent years, MRI biomarkers have been utilized to assess the response of patients with relapsing-remitting MS to the available treatments. Similarly, MRI indicators of neurodegeneration demonstrate potential as primary and secondary endpoints in clinical trials targeting progressive phenotypes. This review aims to provide an overview of the latest advancements in brain and spinal cord neuroimaging in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Nistri
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.I.); (C.G.); (C.P.)
| | - Antonio Ianniello
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.I.); (C.G.); (C.P.)
| | - Valeria Pozzilli
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Costanza Giannì
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.I.); (C.G.); (C.P.)
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Carlo Pozzilli
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.I.); (C.G.); (C.P.)
- MS Center Sant’Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy
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Rathmann E, Hemkemeier P, Raths S, Grothe M, Mankertz F, Hosten N, Flessa S. Changes in MRI Workflow of Multiple Sclerosis after Introduction of an AI-Software: A Qualitative Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:978. [PMID: 38786390 PMCID: PMC11121325 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12100978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the integration of machine learning into daily radiological diagnostics, using the example of the machine learning software mdbrain® (Mediaire GmbH, Germany) in the diagnostic MRI workflow of patients with multiple sclerosis at the University Medicine Greifswald. The data were assessed through expert interviews, a comparison of analysis times with and without the machine learning software, as well as a process analysis of MRI workflows. Our results indicate a reduction in the screen-reading workload, improved decision-making regarding contrast administration, an optimized workflow, reduced examination times, and facilitated report communication with colleagues and patients. Our results call for a broader and quantitative analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiko Rathmann
- Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany or (N.H.)
| | - Pia Hemkemeier
- Department of Business Administration and Health Care Management, Faculty of Law and Economics, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany (S.F.)
| | - Susan Raths
- Department of Business Administration and Health Care Management, Faculty of Law and Economics, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany (S.F.)
| | - Matthias Grothe
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Fiona Mankertz
- Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany or (N.H.)
| | - Norbert Hosten
- Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany or (N.H.)
| | - Steffen Flessa
- Department of Business Administration and Health Care Management, Faculty of Law and Economics, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany (S.F.)
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Vanden Bulcke C, Stölting A, Maric D, Macq B, Absinta M, Maggi P. Comparative overview of multi-shell diffusion MRI models to characterize the microstructure of multiple sclerosis lesions and periplaques. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103593. [PMID: 38520830 PMCID: PMC10978527 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
In multiple sclerosis (MS), accurate in vivo characterization of the heterogeneous lesional and extra-lesional tissue pathology remains challenging. Marshalling several advanced imaging techniques - quantitative relaxation time (T1) mapping, a model-free average diffusion signal approach and four multi-shell diffusion models - this study investigates the performance of multi-shell diffusion models and characterizes the microstructural damage within (i) different MS lesion types - active, chronic active, and chronic inactive - (ii) their respective periplaque white matter (WM), and (iii) the surrounding normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). In 83 MS participants (56 relapsing-remitting, 27 progressive) and 23 age and sex-matched healthy controls (HC), we analysed a total of 317 paramagnetic rim lesions (PRL+), 232 non-paramagnetic rim lesions (PRL-), 38 contrast-enhancing lesions (CEL). Consistent with previous findings and histology, our analysis revealed the ability of advanced multi-shell diffusion models to characterize the unique microstructural patterns of CEL, and to elucidate their possible evolution into a resolving (chronic inactive) vs smoldering (chronic active) inflammatory stage. In addition, we showed that the microstructural damage extends well beyond the MRI-visible lesion edge, gradually fading out while moving outward from the lesion edge into the immediate WM periplaque and the NAWM, the latter still characterized by diffuse microstructural damage in MS vs HC. This study also emphasizes the critical role of selecting appropriate diffusion models to elucidate the complex pathological architecture of MS lesions and their periplaque. More specifically, multi-compartment diffusion models based on biophysically interpretable metrics such as neurite orientation dispersion and density (NODDI; mean auc=0.8002) emerge as the preferred choice for MS applications, while simpler models based on a representation of the diffusion signal, like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI; mean auc=0.6942), consistently underperformed, also when compared to T1 mapping (mean auc=0.73375).
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Vanden Bulcke
- Neuroinflammation Imaging Lab (NIL), Institute of NeuroScience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; ICTEAM Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Anna Stölting
- Neuroinflammation Imaging Lab (NIL), Institute of NeuroScience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dragan Maric
- Flow and Imaging Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benoît Macq
- ICTEAM Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Martina Absinta
- Translational Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Maggi
- Neuroinflammation Imaging Lab (NIL), Institute of NeuroScience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
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Preziosa P, Pagani E, Meani A, Storelli L, Margoni M, Yudin Y, Tedone N, Biondi D, Rubin M, Rocca MA, Filippi M. Chronic Active Lesions and Larger Choroid Plexus Explain Cognition and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis. NEUROLOGY(R) NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2024; 11:e200205. [PMID: 38350048 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Chronic inflammation may contribute to cognitive dysfunction and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) and choroid plexus (CP) enlargement have been proposed as markers of chronic inflammation in MS being associated with a more severe disease course. However, their relation with cognitive impairment and fatigue has not been fully explored yet. Here, we investigated the contribution of PRL number and volume and CP enlargement to cognitive impairment and fatigue in patients with MS. METHODS Brain 3T MRI, neurologic evaluation, and neuropsychological assessment, including the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, were obtained from 129 patients with MS and 73 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). PRLs were identified on phase images of susceptibility-weighted imaging, whereas CP volume was quantified using a fully automatic method on brain three-dimensional T1-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI sequences. Predictors of cognitive impairment and fatigue were identified using random forest. RESULTS Thirty-six (27.9%) patients with MS were cognitively impaired, and 31/113 (27.4%) patients had fatigue. Fifty-nine (45.7%) patients with MS had ≥1 PRLs (median = 0, interquartile range = 0;2). Compared with HC, patients with MS showed significantly higher T2-hyperintense white matter lesion (WM) volume; lower normalized brain, thalamic, hippocampal, caudate, cortical, and WM volumes; and higher normalized CP volume (p from <0.001 to 0.040). The predictors of cognitive impairment (relative importance) (out-of-bag area under the curve [OOB-AUC] = 0.707) were normalized brain volume (100%), normalized caudate volume (89.1%), normalized CP volume (80.3%), normalized cortical volume (70.3%), number (67.3%) and volume (66.7%) of PRLs, and T2-hyperintense WM lesion volume (64.0%). Normalized CP volume was the only predictor of the presence of fatigue (OOB-AUC = 0.563). DISCUSSION Chronic inflammation, with higher number and volume of PRLs and enlarged CP, may contribute to cognitive impairment in MS in addition to gray matter atrophy. The contribution of enlarged CP in explaining fatigue supports the relevance of immune-related processes in determining this manifestation independently of disease severity. PRLs and CP enlargement may contribute to the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment and fatigue in MS, and they may represent clinically relevant therapeutic targets to limit the impact of these clinical manifestations in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Preziosa
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Pagani
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Meani
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Loredana Storelli
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Margoni
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Yury Yudin
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicolò Tedone
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Diana Biondi
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Rubin
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria A Rocca
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- From the Neuroimaging Research Unit (P.P., E.P., A.M., L.S., M.M., Y.Y., N.T., D.B., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), Division of Neuroscience; Neurology Unit (P.P., M.M., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (P.P., M.R., M.A.R., M.F.); Neurorehabilitation Unit (M.M., M.F.); and Neurophysiology Service (M.F.), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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