Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common auto-immune demyelinating inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system including brain and spinal cord in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in diagnosis. Accordingly, MRI was included in diagnosis in McDonald criteria of 2001 and in their revised versions of 2005 and 2010 as well [1, 2].

MS was considered as a white matter disease for a long time. However, it is proved that it affects also cortical grey matter as well by histopathologic studies [3].

MR imaging has a valuable role in diagnosis and follow-up of MS, as MS lesions formation leads to hydrophilic changes in its site which is reflected as high signal intensity on T2-weighted scans and low signal on T1-weighted scans [4].

Although T2 weight images plays important role in detection of MS lesions, lesion depiction is affected by bright cerebrospinal fluid signal in ventricular system and subarachnoid space that affect lesions in periventricular white matter and juxta-cortical region as both are bright, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery 2D-FLAIR helps to overcome this limitation by suppressing CSF signal and yet creates good contrast between MS lesions and white matter [5].

Unfortunately, great role of 2D-FLAIR in CSF signal suppression leads to reduction of SNR and decrease in contrast between gray matter and white matter especially in old patients. Furthermore, flow artifact seen in 2D-FLAIR mainly due to CSF flow and to less extent due to blood flow leads to inadequate T2 weighting [6].

More recently and with evaluation of MRI sequences, three-dimensional MR sequences like 3D-FLAIR have become available with the advantage of high-spatial resolution with high SNR and its capacity to obtain multiplanar reconstruction that allow simultaneous evaluation of the lesion in three orthogonal planes [7, 8], the disadvantage of these three-dimensional sequences is increased acquisition time per scan [9].

This study is focusing on evaluating role of 3D-FLAIR in multiple sclerosis imaging compared to standard T2 and 2D-FLAIR sequences.

Methods

Patients

This study was done between March 2017 and October 2018 on 20 selected patients (12 females and 8 males) of age ranging from 18 to 45 years and mean age of the patients was 24 years.

Inclusion criteria includes patients clinically diagnosed or suspected to have MS, patients comprised of 14 subjects with relapsing-remitting MS, two of them had acute attacks while others during recovery period and 6 subjects with clinical isolated syndrome (CIS) during their first episode of MS symptoms

Exclusion criteria include patients with concomitant neurological disease in addition to MS and patients with MRI claustrophobia.

This prospective study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board and informed consent was obtained from all patients included in the study before MRI acquisition.

MRI imaging

Brain MRI was performed with a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner (Ingenia; Philips Medical Systems; Best, The Netherlands) by using an eight-channel head coil. The patients were examined with a standard MS diagnosis protocol including routinely used T2 and 2D-FLAIR sequences and 3D-FLAIR sequence is added in the same session, no post-contrast acquisitions were performed. T2 and 2D-FLAIR were acquired in the axial and coronal planes, and 2D-FLAIR was acquired in sagittal plane; the slice thickness was 5 mm in 2D sequences and 1.5 mm in 3D-FLAIR. The acquisition time of the 2D sequences was 1:32 and 1:12 min for T2 and 2D-FLAIR sequences, respectively, while it took about 5:40 min with 3D-FLAIR. More detailed sequence parameters are listed in Table 1.

Table 1 MRI pulse sequences used in this study
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Image analysis

3D-FLAIR images were reformatted into axial, coronal, and sagittal images (Fig. 1). All T2, 2D-FLAIR images, and 3D-FLAIR images were analyzed by two radiologists who have about 10-year experience in neuroradiology in conjoint reading blinded to patient’s clinical presentation. High signal intensity brain lesions with a size of not less than 1 mm were counted in each of the three pulse sequences, and their number is documented; hyperintense lesion was only counted once when it appeared on multiple contiguous slices. Their location was documented and classified into the following:

Fig. 1
figure 1

Example of multiplanar. a Axial, b coronal, and c sagittal 3D-FLAIR images

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(A) Supratentorial lesions which were divided into the following:

1. Periventricular lesions (those lesions abutting lateral ventricles and rarely third ventricle).

2. Deep white matter lesions (in deep white matter).

3. Juxta-cortical lesions (within the subcortical white matter immediately adjacent to the grey matter).

(B) Infratentorial lesions (located in or along the surface of the cerebellum and brain stem).

Statistical analysis

For data analysis Statistical Package for Social Science software computer program version 23 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used. Analysis of multiple brain lesions on the different pulse sequences (3D-FLAR, 2D-FLAIR, and T2) was performed. The statistical differences in analyses were assessed using the Wilcoxon test for matched pairs. The relative comparison of the number of MS brain lesions on 3D-FLAIR versus 2D-FLAIR and T2 imaging, respectively, was expressed as percentage gain or a loss in the number of detected brain lesions. All calculations were performed by the SPSS software package (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

3D-FLAIR sequence revealed 270 lesions representing the overall load measurement (the total number of lesions in all cases), while 2D-FLAIR sequence revealed 195 lesions and T2 pulse sequence revealed 187 lesions. (Table 2, Fig. 2)

Table 2 Number of detected lesions in all patients in different brain regions by each used sequence and relative comparison of 3D-FLAIR versus 2D-FLAIR and T2 pulse sequences
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Fig. 2
figure 2

Analysis of the lesion load detection by 3D-FLAIR, 2D-FLAIR, and T2WI according to the total number of lesions in the supratentorial, infratentorial regions and in both regions

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3D-FLAIR sequence was significantly superior to T2 (P less than 0.001 with a relative ratio of 44%) and significantly superior to 2D-FLAIR (P less than 0.001 with a relative ratio of 38%) regarding the total load measurement (Table 2).

In supratentorial region, total number of lesions depicted by 3D-FLAIR 261 lesions, 190 lesions by 2D-FLAIR sequence, and 179 lesions by T2 pulse sequence (Table 2, Fig. 2)

Supratentorial lesions were further categorized according to their anatomical location into (periventricular WM, deep WM, and juxta-cortical WM).

In periventricular region (Fig. 3), the total number of lesions was depicted by 3D-FLAIR 107 lesions: 83 lesions by 2D-FLAIR sequence and 76 lesions by T2 pulse sequence in deep white matter region (Fig. 4); the total number of lesion depicted by 3D-FLAIR 112 lesions: 92 lesions by 2D-FLAIR sequence and 86 lesions by T2 pulse sequence; finally, in juxta-cortical region (Figs. 5 and 6), the total number of lesions depicted by 3D-FLAIR 42 lesions: 15 lesions by 2D-FLAIR sequence and 17 lesions by T2 pulse sequence (Table 2, Fig. 7).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Axial T2, 2D FLAIR, and 3D-FLAIR images showing periventricular white matter more clearly distinguished on 3D-FLAIR than T2 and 2D-FLAIR images

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Fig. 4
figure 4

Above row coronal T2, 2D FLAIR, and 3D-FLAIR image and below row is detail enlargement approximately corresponding to above images showing two hyperintense lesions in deep white matter more clearly distinguished on 3D-FLAIR than T2 and 2D-FLAIR images

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Fig. 5
figure 5

Above row coronal T2, 2D FLAIR, and 3D-FLAIR image and below row is detail enlargement approximately corresponding to above images in the same patient of Fig. 3 showing single small hyperintense lesions seen in juxta-cortical white matter seen on 3D-FLAIR and not depicted on T2 and 2D-FLAIR images

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Fig. 6
figure 6

Above row axial T2, 2D FLAIR, and 3D-FLAIR image and below row is detail enlargement approximately corresponding to above images showing single hyperintense lesion seen in juxta-cortical white matter; it is better seen on 3D-FLAIR images with good contrast to both white and grey matter and less depicted on T2 and 2D-FLAIR images

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Fig. 7
figure 7

Analysis of supratentorial white matter lesion detection by 3D-FLAIR, 2D-FLAIR, and T2WI according to their anatomical site (periventricular, deep white matter, and juxta-cortical).

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3D-FLAIR sequence was superior to T2 WM and FLAIR sequence in lesion detection in all these locations as detailed.

In periventricular WM region, 3D-FLAIR sequence showed significantly more lesions compared to 2D-FLAIR sequence (P = 0.001 with a relative ratio of 29%), and compared to T2 (P = 0.001 with a relative ratio of 41%), in deep WM 3D-FLAIR sequence showed significantly more lesions compared to T2W sequence (P = 0.001 with a relative ratio of 30%) and compared to 2D-FLAIR sequence (P = 0.005 with a relative ratio of 22%) and in juxta-cortical region 3D-FLAIR sequence showed significantly more lesions compared to the T2W sequence (P = 0.001 with a relative ratio of 147%) and compared to 2D-FLAIR sequence (P less than 0.001 with a relative ratio of 180%) (Table 2).

In infratentorial region (Fig. 8), 3D-FLAIR sequence revealed 9 lesions, while 2D-FLAIR sequence revealed 5 lesions and T2 pulse sequence revealed 8 lesions (Table 2, Fig. 2).

Fig. 8
figure 8

Above row axial T2, 2D FLAIR, and 3D-FLAIR image and below row is detail enlargement approximately corresponding to above images showing two hyperintense lesions in left cerebellar hemisphere that appear well on 3D-FLAIR than T2 images in which only the larger lesion appears and the smaller one hardly seen and 2D-FLAIR images in which both lesions are not well depicted

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3D-FLAIR sequence was superior to T2 sequence in depicting the infratentorial lesions with a relative ratio of 13% and also superior to 2D-FLAIR sequence with a relative ratio of 80% (Table 2).

Discussion

3D MRI sequences have many advantages over 2D sequences. Images acquired by 3D sequences have isotropic voxel dimensions and absence of inter-slice gap so it can be easily reformatted without degrading the image quality; in addition, it allows time acceleration using compressed sensing [10]. Another good factor in 3D images is decreased slice thickness that also leads to increased number of detected lesions [11].

Early studies showed that 3D-FLAIR is more superior than routinely used 2D sequences (T2 and 2D-FLAIR) in detection of MS lesions [12, 13]; however, in early trials, 3D sequences took long acquisition times as it were multi-slab mode, and that disadvantage was adjusted by using single-slab mode [14].

In this study, although 3D-FLAIR sequence has longer time 5:40 min compared to 1:32 min in T2 sequence and 1:12 min in 2D FLAIR sequence, it is not considered a drawback as it is 3D volume images by which axial, coronal, and sagittal reformate images could be obtained.

3D-FLAIR sequence is one of 3D sequences that have advantage of good signal with small voxels and by turn high SNRs [9, 15]. Another advantage seen in 3D-FLAIR sequences is better CSF suppression than T2 and 2D FLAIR sequences and by turn absence of CSF flow artifacts that occurs because large volume excited using 3D technique; these advantages improve MS lesion detection [16].

In current study, 3D-FLAIR sequence significantly detected more overall number of lesions comparing to standard used 2D-FLAIR and T2 sequences.

In current study, the detected lesions were mainly in supratentorial region (periventricular, deep WM and juxta-cortical), and in all three locations, 3D-FLAIR sequence showed significantly more lesions than 2D-FLAIR and T2 sequences. We found that in juxta-cortical region, much more lesions were depicted by 3D-FLAIR sequence than 2D-FLAIR and T2 sequences with more significance and high-percentage ratio than in periventricular WM and deep WM. The major number of that higher count of lesions was due to depiction of new smaller lesions not seen by 2D-FLAIR and T2 sequences, in addition to many lesions that appeared as single confluenting lesion on both sequences were found to be multiple distinct lesions adjacent to each other by 3D-FLAIR.

Recently, juxta-cortical lesions more frequently occur and have found to be related to more clinical disability [17,18,19].

Few lesions seen in infratentorial region in this study is probably due to limited number of patients, that is keeping with Patzig M et al. [20] that reported few infratentorial lesions found in brain stem and cerebellum probably due to limited number of patients that was also seen in our study.

In current present study, 3D-FLAIR sequence was superior to T2 sequence in depicting the infratentorial lesions and also much more superior to 2D-FLAIR sequence.

It have been found that 2D-FLAIR sequences are not ideal in the depiction of infratentorial lesion due to CSF flow artifact and lower contrast seen between lesion and white matter [21, 22].

This study results are in keeping with Moraal B et al. [9] who reported that 3D-FLAIR sequence provided the highest sensitivity for depiction of hyperintense MS plaque in all anatomical locations including supra-tentorial and infratentorial lesions compared to any other 2D sequences, in particular 2D-T2SE, that could lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease.

In MS, there is associated changes white matter diffusion seen in diffusion-weighted images (DWI), and it index apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) by primary inflammatory changes consisting of the cytotoxic edema followed by vasogenic edema, and active plaques may demonstrate high or low ADC (increased or decreased diffusion) [23].

Larsson HB et al. [24] declares the role of DWI in early depiction of acute MS lesions, and few other studies have discussed the role of diffusion as good diagnostic method as comparable to conventional MRI with conflicting results [24, 25]

Many studies have been done and examined the role of 3D DIR sequences in diagnosis of MS; in DIR sequences, there is using of additional inversion pulse that increase attenuation of white matter and CSF, and in turn, increase lesion hyperintensity and its depiction; 3D-FLAIR sequences stimulates similar effect and white matter lesions become more hyperintense [9, 26, 27].

Further studies are needed to compare results of 3D-FLAIR and 3D-DIR in depiction of MS lesions.

Acknowledgement of study limitation due to limited number of MS patients is included in the study, but statistical analysis from this work was based on large total number of MS lesions which was considered sufficient.

Conclusion

3D-FLAIR sequence is valuable in diagnosis and follow-up of brain MS lesions as it can detect much more lesions as compared to the standard routinely used 2D-FLAIR and T2 sequences in brain supratentorial and infratentorial regions. 3D-FLAIR sequences showed better depiction and better delineation between the lesions and both white and grey matters; we recommend 3D-FLAIR sequence to be included in routine MR protocols of MS patients.