We use multi-contrast 7T MRI to evaluate longitudinal changes in white matter tissue properties prior to and after lesion appearance. Four MS patients were scanned 6 times at 6-week intervals, and 20 new lesions were identified on FLAIR images in that period. Of these, 35% showed a hypointense rim and 65% showed no rim in QSM data. Subtle changes in MT, NOE, and QSM relative to NAWM values could be detected 6 weeks prior to the first clinical appearance of new lesions. In future studies, these data will provide insight into specific tissue changes that precede lesion development in MS.
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