Evidence for a white matter lesion size threshold to support the diagnosis of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler Relat Disord 2019;
29:124-129. [PMID:
30711877 DOI:
10.1016/j.msard.2019.01.042]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The number of white matter lesions (WML) in brain MRI is the most established paraclinical tool to support the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and to monitor its course. Diagnostic criteria have stipulated a minimum detectable diameter of 3 mm per WML, although this threshold is not evidence-based. We aimed to provide a rationale for a WML size threshold for three-dimensional MRI sequences at 3 T by comparing patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) to control subjects (CS).
METHODS
We analyzed MR images from two cohorts, obtained at scanners from two different vendors, each comprising patients with RRMS and CS. Both cohorts were examined with FLAIR and T1w sequences. In total, 232 patients with RRMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale: mean = 1.6 ± 1.2; age: mean = 36 ± 10) as well as 116 age- and sex-matched CS were studied. We calculated odds ratios across WML volumes. The WML size threshold, which discriminated best between patients and CS, was estimated with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.
RESULTS
In both cohorts, odds ratios increased continuously with increasing WML volumes, and discriminative power was highest at a WML size threshold corresponding to a diameter of about 3 mm.
CONCLUSION
The stipulated WML size threshold of 3 mm in diameter for the diagnostic criteria of MS seems a reasonable choice for three-dimensional MRI sequences at 3 T.
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