Maximizing the harvest of contrast enhancing lesions in multiple sclerosis

Transient contrast enhancing lesions can be seen with CT in patients with MS, particularly during acute exacerbations. Conventional 40 gm iodine enhancement technique followed by immediate postinfusion scanning was compared with high dose (80 gm iodine) enhancement technique followed by a 1-hour delayed CT scan; delayed high dose technique (DHD) in nine exacerbations. New lesions, totaling 36 in all, were observed in each case with the DHD technique. With time, the borders expanded in 98% of lesions, thus confirming in vivo that a defective blood-brain barrier (BBB) underlies this phenomenon.