Characterization of Paramagnetic Rim Lesions using quantitative and semi-quantitative MRI modalities

Chronic active lesions have been recently investigated in multiple sclerosis (MS) and associated with the detection of paramagnetic rims on susceptibility-based MRI images (filtered phase and quantitative susceptibility mapping). Quantitative MRI approaches have the potential to reveal the degree of tissue damage in paramagnetic rim lesions. In this study a significant increase in T2* relaxation time and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) as well as a decrease in Magnetization Transfer Ratio (MTR) and Magnetization Transfer Saturation (MTSat) was revealed in PRL+ lesions compared to PRL-, thus supporting the use of these MRI metrics to detect tissue damage associated with chronic activity.