Filippi M, Rocca MA, Moiola L, Martinelli V, Ghezzi A, Capra R, Salvi F, Comi GNeurology 1999 Nov 10;53(8):1705-10 University of Milan,Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele,Department of Neuroscience,Milan, Italy PMID# 10563616, UI# 20025140Abstract Objectives
To assess MRI and Magnetization Transfer (MT) imaging changes in the Brain and Cervical Cord from patients with Devic's NeuroMyelitis Optica (DNO), and to compare them with those from patients with MS. Background
In MS, MT imaging detects changes within the Normal-Appearing Brain Tissue (NABT). MS lesions in the Cord usually are IsoIntense on T1-weighted images. No study has investigated these two aspects in patients with DNO. Methods
The authors obtained dual echo, fast Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery, T1-weighted, and MT scans of the Brain from 8 DNO patients, 10 MS patients, and 9 healthy volunteers. T2-weighted, short-tau inversion recovery, T1-weighted, and MT scans of the Cervical Cord also were obtained. The authors identified lesions visible on the different scans and quantified the volumes for those in the Brain. MT ratio (MTR) Histogram analysis of the NABT and of the entire Cervical Cord also was performed. Results
No Brain abnormalities were found on the T2-weighted scans from healthy volunteers and from seven DNO patients. No significant difference was found for any of the NABT-MTR Histogram metrics between DNO patients and controls, whereas MS patients had a significantly lower Histogram average MTR and peak height. | 
