Translating pathology in multiple sclerosis: the combination of postmortem imaging, histopathology and clinical findings

BACKGROUND: Studies combining postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathology have provided important insights into the abnormalities reflected by MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A short overview of these studies applied to multiple sclerosis (MS) is provided in this review, and the Amsterdam postmortem imaging protocol is specifically highlighted. CONCLUSION: Postmortem MRI and histopathology correlation studies have enabled a direct translation of basic pathology in MS to the clinical setting, and have simultaneously served as a biological validation of new MRI techniques.