Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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The spinal cord is a common site of involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS), and a major cause of the disability suffered by MS patients. High quality MR imaging of the spinal cord is therefore important for diagnosis and research. ⋯ Major studies are underway involving spinal cord imaging, and clinical trials of disease-modifying agents are beginning to include spinal cord imaging, especially measurements of atrophy, as part of their protocols. In clinical practice, spinal cord imaging is essential for ruling out other causes of myelopathies, particularly spinal cord compression, and can help in the diagnosis of MS when brain imaging is normal, or in older individuals in whom findings in the brain are less specific.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Nov 2000
ReviewHow to participate in a multiple sclerosis clinical trial.
MR imaging has made a significant contribution to the understanding of the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS). MR imaging is an important technique for investigating the pathologic process in the MS patient's brain and spinal cord, and it is now considered an essential part of all clinical trials being performed on new agents in the treatment of MS. This article provides an overview for those wishing to become involved in MS clinical research. Discussion includes the use of conventional and newer MR imaging techniques in clinical trials, current thoughts regarding the role of MR imaging as a surrogate outcome measure, and various types of trial designs.