Improved Detection of Multiple Sclerosis Plaques in Inversion Recovery by Optimization of Sequence Parameters

MRI is a tool of choice for detecting demyelinating lesions in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease. On a consensual basis, the detection of those lesions in done on FLAIR (FLuid Attenuated Inversion Recovery) sequences, weighted T2 with cancelling of fluid signal, leading to a much better contrast between the lesion and the environment. The environment is displayed as a iso-signal for the surrounding healthy brain's white matter and as a hypo-signal for the fluids. Keys parameters indicative of the sequence's contrast are the echo time, the reversal time, and the repetition time, wich seems to be crucial to detect the lesions, according to relatively discordant results of publications using different technologies of FLAIR. Although 3D FLAIR sequences play an essential role for diagnosis and evaluation (evolution under treatment, prognosis) of demyelinating pathologies there is no consensus on parameters used on routine basis.

The aim of the trial is to discover the optimal combination of theses parameters so as to well detect the lesions.

Inclusion criteria

• relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
• MRI required

Exclusion criteria

• MRI contraindication