The value of manual MRI measurements of brain and spinal cord for daily clinical practice in multiple sclerosis subjects: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND

MRI is essential for diagnosing and monitoring Multiple Sclerosis. Emerging imaging biomarkers for disease progression often rely on non-conventional MRI sequences and complex post-processing tools, which are not typically available in routine clinical practice.

AIM: To provide radiologists and neurologists worldwide with simplified MRI measurements for MS follow-up, obtained from conventional MRI sequences, to assist in predicting disability outcomes in people with MS.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review covering five different online databases [PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core collection, Cochrane library CENTRAL and Scopus] resulting in 10916 results. Relevant full-text publications were selected after abstract and full-text reviews. This review followed the PRISMA-Scr guidelines. Data extraction was carried out by the two reviewers using a standardized predefined form.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine papers were included, identifying thirty-five manual measurements of brain and six of spinal cord. The third ventricle width (TVW) and corpus callosum area (CCA) were the most studied, with validation against their volumetric counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Simplified MRI measurements, such as TVW and CCA, could be easily captured, enabling radiologists to assess the neurodegenerative component of MS in real-time, without relying on non-conventional imaging techniques or post-processing tools.