Lancet neurology
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
MRI criteria for dissemination in space in patients with clinically isolated syndromes: a multicentre follow-up study.
The McDonald International Panel accepted the Barkhof/Tintoré criteria for providing MRI evidence of dissemination in space to allow a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS). We applied these criteria in a large cohort of patients with CIS, representative of those seen in a general diagnostic setting, to assess their accuracy in predicting conversion to definite multiple sclerosis and to identify factors that affect this risk. ⋯ MRI abnormalities have important prognostic value. The cut-off, based on the Barkhof/Tintoré criteria, as incorporated in the McDonald diagnostic scheme yields acceptable specificity, but could have lower sensitivity than previously reported.