Tim Sinnecker1, Paul Mittelstaedt1,
Jan Markus Doerr1, Caspar F. Pfueller1, Lutz Harms1,
Thoralf Niendorf2,3, Friedemann Paul1,4, Jens Wuerfel2,5
1Charit University Medicine,
Berlin, Germany; 2Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicin,
Berlin, Germany; 3Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility, Berlin,
Germany; 4NeuroCure Clinical Research Center , Berlin, Germany; 5University
Luebeck, Berlin, Germany
This work demonstrates the potential of ultrahigh field 3D T1-weighted imaging using magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition and multiple gradient echoes (MPRAGE) for the detection and characterization of white and grey matter pathology in multiple sclerosis patients (MS). In this clinical study includes 17 MS patients were investigated at 7T. All 435 MS plaques depicted in T2- and/or DIR images were also clearly delineated as hypointense plaques in the corresponding MPRAGE images. Our clinical findings indicate structural damage of each individual MS lesion and may impact the future definition of black holes currently used as an indicator for irreversible brain tissue damage.