T2 Relaxometry Evidence of Microstructural Changes in Diffusely Abnormal White Matter in Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and Clinically Isolated Syndrome: Impact on Visuomotor Performance

Abstract

Axial sections of the last echo of the multi-echo spin echo (MESE) sequence (echo time = 214.4 MSEC), fluidattenuated inversion recovery (Flair) and T1 magnetization prepared - rapid gradient echo (MPRAGE) sequences (Upper Row), and maps of short t2, long t2, and myelin water fraction (MWF) values (Lower Row) from a representative relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patient. Regions of interest were positioned in diffusely abnormal white matter (Red Circles) and posterior periventricular normal appearing white matter (NAWM) (Black Circles). Measurements were, also, made in focal lesions identified on T2-weighted images, varying on their intensity on T1-weighted images (see materials and methods section). In this section A T1 isointense focal lesion (White Circles) and a T1 moderate hypointense focal lesion (Yellow Circles) are shown. According to the results, MWF and T2 values were intermediate between the respective values of NAWM and T1 hypointense focal lesions, but not significantly different from T1 isointense lesions by papadaki et al (1077–1087)