Diagnostic accuracy of double inversion recovery (DIR) in detection of cortical gray matter lesions in patients with MS

Background Conventional imaging techniques have a low sensitivity for detection of cortical and deep grey matter lesions in MS which hinder accurate assessment of the total lesion burden. Aim of this work was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of double inversion recovery (DIR) sequence in the detection of cortical grey matter lesions in MS patients. Results Forty MS patients were prospectively included in this study. Imaging was performed using Philips Ingenia 1.5 T device. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of DIR sequence in detection of cortical grey matter lesions were 60%, 100%, 100%, 55.6% and 73.3%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as accuracy of Flair sequence were 50%, 100%, 100%, 50% and 66.7%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as accuracy of T2 sequence in the detection of cortical grey matter lesions were 22.5%, 100%, 100%, 39.2% and 48.3%, respectively. Conclusions Detection rate of cortical gray matter lesions was significantly higher on DIR sequence than on T2 and Flair sequences.

The value of double inversion recovery MRI sequence in assessment of epilepsy patients

Background The double inversion recovery (DIR) pulse sequence was introduced several years ago and since that it grew important value in clinical neuroimaging. We aimed to assess the added value of double inversion recovery in evaluation of epileptic patients. Results In mesial temporal sclerosis, the measured contrast parameters (SNR, CR, CNR and AI) were found to be significantly higher in DIR than in FLAIR and T2 sequences. In cases of focal cortical dysplasia, significantly higher CNR and AI in DIR than in T2 and FLAIR. Also DIR showed higher detection of the increased cortical thickness and cortical signal intensity than the T2 and FLAIR sequences. In tuberous sclerosis cases, the DIR showed higher visibility of the lesions than the T2 and FLAIR. Also DIR showed higher ability to detected grey-white matters junction blurring. Conclusions Our study concluded that the greatest value of the double inversion recovery sequence is its higher ability in detecting multiple characteristics of the lesions in a one sequence.

Artificial double inversion recovery images for (juxta)cortical lesion visualization in multiple sclerosis

Background: Cortical lesions are highly inconspicuous on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Double inversion recovery (DIR) has a higher sensitivity than conventional clinical sequences (i.e. T1, T2, FLAIR) but is difficult to acquire, leading to overseen cortical lesions in clinical care and clinical trials. Objective: To evaluate the usability of artificially generated DIR (aDIR) images for cortical lesion detection compared to conventionally acquired DIR (cDIR). Methods: The dataset consisted of 3D-T1 and 2D-proton density (PD) T2 images of 73 patients (49RR, 20SP, 4PP) at 1.5 T. Using a 4:1 train:test-ratio, a fully convolutional neural network was trained to predict 3D-aDIR from 3D-T1 and 2D-PD/T2 images. Randomized blind scoring of the test set was used to determine detection reliability, precision and recall. Results: A total of 626 vs 696 cortical lesions were detected on 15 aDIR vs cDIR images (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.92). Compared to cDIR, precision and recall were 0.84 ± 0.06 and 0.76 ± 0.09, respectively. The frontal and temporal lobes showed the largest differences in discernibility. Conclusion: Cortical lesions can be detected with good reliability on artificial DIR. The technique has potential to broaden the availability of DIR in clinical care and provides the opportunity of ex post facto implementation of cortical lesions imaging in existing clinical trial data.

The Prognostic Value of White-Matter Selective Double Inversion Recovery MRI Sequence in Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploratory Study

Using a white-matter selective double inversion recovery sequence (WM-DIR) that suppresses both grey matter (GM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) signals, some white matter (WM) lesions appear surrounded by a dark rim. These dark rim lesions (DRLs) seem to be specific for multiple sclerosis (MS). They could be of great usefulness in clinical practice, proving to increase the MRI diagnostic criteria specificity. The aims of this study are the identification of DRLs on 1.5 T MRI, the exploration of the relationship between DRLs and disease course, the characterization of DRLs with respect to perilesional normal-appearing WM using magnetization transfer imaging, and the investigation of possible differences in the underlying tissue properties by assessing WM-DIR images obtained at 3.0 T MRI. DRLs are frequent in primary progressive MS (PPMS) patients. Amongst relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients, DRLs are associated with a high risk of the disease worsening and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) conversion after 15 years. The mean magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of DRLs is significantly different from the lesion without the dark rim, suggesting that DRLs correspond to more destructive lesions.

Correlation of cortical lesions of multiple sclerosis at double inversion recovery with cognition screening scores

Background Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting both white and gray matters of the central nervous system. It has been approved that the degree of gray matter involvement is closely associated with the degree of physical disability and the extent of cognitive impairment. Thus, it is necessary to incorporate widely available simple methods for neurocognitive evaluation and gray matter detection in the periodic assessment of MS patients that will influence treatment decisions. Objectives To assess the correlation of cortical lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS) at double inversion recovery (DIR) with cognition screening scores Methods This study was conducted on 30 patients with MS with an average age of 31.3±13.6 years. All of them underwent MRI and clinical assessment with the calculation of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT) scores. The image analysis was performed by 2 reviewers for cortical lesion number, shape, and subtypes, and total lesion load. Results Both MoCA and SDMT scales had a significant inverse correlation with cortical lesions number (r=− 0.68, − 0.72) respectively and total lesion load (r=− 0.53, − 0.65) respectively. Besides, there was a significant inverse correlation between the MoCA test, varied cortical subtypes: leukocortical, juxtacortical, and intracortical subtypes (r = − 0.63, − 0.56, − 0.52) respectively, and different cortical lesion shapes: oval, wedge, and curvilinear shaped (r = − 0.62, − 0.69, − 0.49) respectively. As well, the SDMT scale showed a significant inverse correlation with varied cortical subtypes: intracortical, leukocortical, and juxtacortical subtypes (r = − 0.63, − 0.61, − 0.57) respectively, and different cortical lesion shapes: oval, curvilinear, and wedge shaped (r = − 0.61, − 0.59, − 0.46) respectively. Interestingly, there was an excellent inter-observer correlation of cortical lesion number (r = 0.96), total lesion load (r = 0.95), subtypes of cortical lesion (r = 0.94), and cortical lesion shapes (r = 0.77). Conclusion We concluded that DIR can detect cortical lesions of MS, and MRI findings were well-correlated with cognitive dysfunction in these patients.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Double Inversion Recovery Sequence in Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Aims: The current work aimed to assess the diagnostically value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Double Inversion Recovery (DIR) sequence in diagnosing of multiple sclerosis. Methodology: This study conducted on (42 patients) from the Diagnostic Radiology and Medical Imaging Dep. at Tanta University Hospital in the period from March 2018 to December 2019. Results: In accordance to the total lesions loads, it was found that DIR was higher significantly than T2WI (P-value= 0.003 with a relative gaining of 22%), we found that double inversion recovery (DIR) sequence was higher significantly to FLAIR regarding the number of diagnosed lesions in 3 anatomical areas (Mixed W-GM, cortical and infra-tentorial) with relative gaining of 28%, 85% and 63% respectively. A non-significant change was found among the two sequences regarding peri-ventricular white matter, deep white matter and juxta-cortical lesions detecting. Conclusion: Conventionally MRI has corner-stone roles in diagnosing, characterizing and following-up of multi-sclerosis. Finally, we concluded that DIR can be used as a addition to or even as an alternative for typical T2 and FLAIR. Therefore, we strongly recommend the addition of DIR sequences in the everyday MR protocol of MS cases.