Abstract

We reviewed the MRIs of 49 asymptomatic volunteers (age range, 31 to 77 years) and of 50 MS patients (age range, 14 to 63) for areas of increased signal (AIS) and features discriminating MS lesions from lesions seen with normal aging. We obtained optimal specificity of MRI interpretation (100%) if we required at least two of the following three AIS features--size greater than or equal to 6 mm, abutting ventricular bodies, infratentorial location--for a positive MRI diagnosis of MS. Applying these criteria to the MRIs of elderly patients with suspected MS should significantly improve specificity (p less than 0.001) over current quantitative criteria (at least three AIS greater than or equal to 3 mm) without significantly decreasing sensitivity.

Keywords

MedicineAsymptomaticMultiple sclerosisMagnetic resonance imagingRadiologyNuclear medicinePathology

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Year
1988
Type
article
Volume
38
Issue
12
Pages
1822-1822
Citations
351
Access
Closed

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Franz Fazekas, H. Offenbacher, Siegrid Fuchs et al. (1988). Criteria for an increased specificity of MRI interpretation in elderly subjects with suspected multiple sclerosis. Neurology , 38 (12) , 1822-1822. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.38.12.1822

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DOI
10.1212/wnl.38.12.1822