Comparison of brain 3.0-T with 1.5-T MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis: A 6-month follow-up study

ObjectivesThe 2010 revisions to the McDonald criteria for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) were recently published. One objective of the revision was to simplify the MRI criteria. The MRI criteria do not specify magnetic field strength. We studied whether there was any difference in diagnosis between brain 3.0-T and 1.5-T MRI according to the 2010 revisions of the McDonald criteria.Patients and methodsWe prospectively studied brain 3.0-T and 1.5-T MRI in 22 patients with MS. 1.5-T MRI was performed 24 h after 3.0-T MRI, and the scanning protocol included contiguous axial sections of T2-weighted images (T2WI), T1WI, and enhanced T1WI. These two different MRI and neurological assessments were scheduled to be repeated 3 and 6 months after study entry.ResultsThe regions where MS lesions were better visualized on 3.0-T MRI tended to be in deep white matter on T2WI. Dissemination of lesions in space and time was similar for 3.0-T and 1.5-T MRI.ConclusionOur study found no difference between brain 3.0-T and 1.5-T MRI. There was no apparent impact of brain 3.0-T MRI on the diagnosis of MS according to the 2010 version of the MRI criteria.