Statistical analysis of phase congruency detects normal appearing white matter changes associated with disease severity between relapsing remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Mechanisms of disease progression from relapsing remitting to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) are still unclear. Here we applied new texture analysis approaches including phase congruency to understand the differences between normal appearing white matter structure in the brain corpus callosum of patients with relapsing or progressive MS, and matched controls. We found that the contrast, energy, and homogeneity of weighted mean phase in the corpus callosum differentiate MS patients from controls, and energy and homogeneity further distinguish relapsing from progressive MS. Advanced analysis of phase congruency outcomes may help detect disease progression in MS.