ABSTRACT
Background@#and
Purpose:
Iron retained by activated
microglia and
macrophages in
multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions may serve as a marker of innate
immune system activation. Among several
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
methods, there has been recent interest in using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) as a potential tool for assessing
iron levels in the
human brain. This study examined QSM findings in MS and
neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) lesions obtained with 3-T MRI to assess imaging characteristics related to paramagnetic rims around
brain lesions in MS and NMOSD. @*
Methods@#This study included 32 MS and 21 seropositive NMOSD
patients. MRI images were obtained using two 3-T MRI
devices (Ingenia, Philips
Healthcare; and Magnetom Verio, Siemens Healthineers) during routine
diagnosis and
treatment procedures. Multi and single echo gradient echo
magnitude and phase images were obtained for QSM reconstruction.QSM images were used to characterize the detected lesions, and the findings were compared between MS and NMOSD. @*Results@#Totals of 71 and 35
MRI scans were performed during the study period in MS and NMOSD
patients, respectively. In QSM images, paramagnetic rims were found in 26 (81.2%) MS
patients and 1 (4.8%) NMOSD
patient. Eight of the 22 MS
patients and only 1 of the 10 NMOSD
patients who underwent follow-up MRI showed new paramagnetic rims. The paramagnetic rim lesions appeared after enhancement or in new T2-weighted lesions without enhancement. @*Conclusions@#Paramagnetic rims might be a characteristic MRI finding for MS, and therefore they have potential as an imaging marker for differentially diagnosing MS from NMOSD using 3-T MRI.