Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Is Contrast MR Imaging Necessary for All Patients?
Am J Neuroradiol; ePub 2018 Oct 4; Mattay, et al
Since all enhancing lesions were associated with new lesions on unenhanced imaging and progression was only evident in 24% of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), it is reasonable to consider reserving contrast for only those patients with evidence of progression on non-contrast MR images. This according to a recent retrospective image-analysis study that aimed to determine whether contrast could be reserved for only those patients who show new MS lesions on follow-up examinations. Researchers retrospectively reviewed brain MRIs of 138 patients. To increase the sensitivity, they used a previously described computerized image-comparison software to evaluate the stability or progression of MS white matter lesions in non-contrast FLAIR sequences. They found:
- 33 scans showed an increase in white matter lesion burden.
- Among those 33 patients, 14 examinations also demonstrated enhancing new lesions.
- While a single example of enhancement of a pre-existing white matter lesion that appeared unchanged in size was found, that same examination showed an overall increase in lesion burden with enhancement of other, new lesions.
- Thus, all patients with enhancing lesions had evidence of progression on their non-contrast imaging.
Mattay RR, Davtyan K, Bilello M, Mamourian AC. Do all patients with multiple sclerosis benefit from the use of contrast on serial follow-up MR imaging? A retrospective analysis. [Published online ahead of print October 4, 2018]. Am J Neuroradiol. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A5828.