University Hospital Basel
Neurology

Author Of 1 Presentation

Invited Presentations Invited Abstracts

TC13.03 - Presentation 03 (ID 628)

Speakers
Authors
Presentation Number
TC13.03
Presentation Topic
Invited Presentations

Abstract

Abstract

MRI of the spinal cord is a valuable part of the diagnostic work-up in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Due to its critical role for locomotion the spinal cord is considered an area of great importance in MS. However MRI-based techniques to study spinal cord abnormalities are not as well developed as for the brain and often not as routinely performed. The main hurdles in this respect relate to technical difficulties (mobility of the cord, inherent contrast, partial volume effects and pulsation artifacts) in producing MRI data of comparable quality to brain MRI. Time and cost restrictions further hamper its frequent use.

The spinal cord is commonly involved in MS, and often already early in the disease course. Cord lesions are shown in up to 83% of MS patients, with 60% of them occurring in the cervical region. Besides lesions, MS is characterized by diffuse damage of the spinal cord leading to atrophy. Association between focal lesions of the cord and clinical disability has been shown, however is less strong than spinal cord atrophy measures. The latter are increasingly recognized as a valuable biomarker. Spinal cord atrophy can be routinely measured, shows strong correlation to clinical disability and is a strong longitudinal predictor of physical disability across all MS subgroups, especially in the progressive types.

This part of the course will discuss the challenges of spinal cord imaging and focus on insights from lesional and atrophy studies with additional future prospects.

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Presenter Of 1 Presentation

Invited Presentations Invited Abstracts

TC13.03 - Presentation 03 (ID 628)

Speakers
Authors
Presentation Number
TC13.03
Presentation Topic
Invited Presentations

Abstract

Abstract

MRI of the spinal cord is a valuable part of the diagnostic work-up in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Due to its critical role for locomotion the spinal cord is considered an area of great importance in MS. However MRI-based techniques to study spinal cord abnormalities are not as well developed as for the brain and often not as routinely performed. The main hurdles in this respect relate to technical difficulties (mobility of the cord, inherent contrast, partial volume effects and pulsation artifacts) in producing MRI data of comparable quality to brain MRI. Time and cost restrictions further hamper its frequent use.

The spinal cord is commonly involved in MS, and often already early in the disease course. Cord lesions are shown in up to 83% of MS patients, with 60% of them occurring in the cervical region. Besides lesions, MS is characterized by diffuse damage of the spinal cord leading to atrophy. Association between focal lesions of the cord and clinical disability has been shown, however is less strong than spinal cord atrophy measures. The latter are increasingly recognized as a valuable biomarker. Spinal cord atrophy can be routinely measured, shows strong correlation to clinical disability and is a strong longitudinal predictor of physical disability across all MS subgroups, especially in the progressive types.

This part of the course will discuss the challenges of spinal cord imaging and focus on insights from lesional and atrophy studies with additional future prospects.

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Moderator Of 1 Session

Teaching Course Fri, Sep 11, 2020
Session Type
Teaching Course
Date
Fri, Sep 11, 2020

Invited Speaker Of 1 Presentation

Invited Presentations Invited Abstracts

TC13.03 - Presentation 03 (ID 628)

Speakers
Authors
Presentation Number
TC13.03
Presentation Topic
Invited Presentations

Abstract

Abstract

MRI of the spinal cord is a valuable part of the diagnostic work-up in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Due to its critical role for locomotion the spinal cord is considered an area of great importance in MS. However MRI-based techniques to study spinal cord abnormalities are not as well developed as for the brain and often not as routinely performed. The main hurdles in this respect relate to technical difficulties (mobility of the cord, inherent contrast, partial volume effects and pulsation artifacts) in producing MRI data of comparable quality to brain MRI. Time and cost restrictions further hamper its frequent use.

The spinal cord is commonly involved in MS, and often already early in the disease course. Cord lesions are shown in up to 83% of MS patients, with 60% of them occurring in the cervical region. Besides lesions, MS is characterized by diffuse damage of the spinal cord leading to atrophy. Association between focal lesions of the cord and clinical disability has been shown, however is less strong than spinal cord atrophy measures. The latter are increasingly recognized as a valuable biomarker. Spinal cord atrophy can be routinely measured, shows strong correlation to clinical disability and is a strong longitudinal predictor of physical disability across all MS subgroups, especially in the progressive types.

This part of the course will discuss the challenges of spinal cord imaging and focus on insights from lesional and atrophy studies with additional future prospects.

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