Urgent challenges in quantification and interpretation of brain grey matter atrophy in individual MS patients using MRI

Atrophy of the brain grey matter (GM) is an accepted and important feature of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, its accurate measurement is hampered by various technical, pathological and physiological factors. As a consequence, it is challenging to investigate the role of GM atrophy in the disease...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Houshang Amiri, Alexandra de Sitter, Kerstin Bendfeldt, Marco Battaglini, Claudia A.M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott, Massimiliano Calabrese, Jeroen J.G. Geurts, Maria A. Rocca, Jaume Sastre-Garriga, Christian Enzinger, Nicola de Stefano, Massimo Filippi, Álex Rovira, Frederik Barkhof, Hugo Vrenken
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-01-01
Series:NeuroImage: Clinical
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158218301323
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Summary:Atrophy of the brain grey matter (GM) is an accepted and important feature of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, its accurate measurement is hampered by various technical, pathological and physiological factors. As a consequence, it is challenging to investigate the role of GM atrophy in the disease process as well as the effect of treatments that aim to reduce neurodegeneration. In this paper we discuss the most important challenges currently hampering the measurement and interpretation of GM atrophy in MS. The focus is on measurements that are obtained in individual patients rather than on group analysis methods, because of their importance in clinical trials and ultimately in clinical care. We discuss the sources and possible solutions of the current challenges, and provide recommendations to achieve reliable measurement and interpretation of brain GM atrophy in MS. Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, Brain atrophy, Grey matter, Magnetic resonance imaging
ISSN:2213-1582