Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review of Diagnostic and Prognostic Applications

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis(MS) is the most commonly occurring disease that is a non-traumatic disease to affect the young generation. The occurrence of multiple sclerosis is rapidly increasing on a worldwide scale. The main cause of multiple sclerosis is thought to be compound gene-environment relations. Various things play a huge part in the development of this disease are- low vitamin D, smoking, childhood obesity, and some infections. As and when changes in the diagnostic criteria and methods occur, we can diagnose multiple sclerosis very early in the disease trajectory. Along with this, there has been an exponential increase in the number, risk, and efficacy of the cure of multiple sclerosis. We are now in a place where we can diagnose pre-symptomatic MS. MS affects the CNS and is an inflammatory disease that occurs most commonly in people of age 20-40 years. MRI has played a very important role in revolutionizing the diagnostic accuracy of multiple sclerosis in adults, and because of that it is now being used extensively to evaluate the efficacy of immune-modulatory therapies. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is based on the history of demyelination of the central nervous system and physical signs and symptoms that are seen upon examination. The diagnosis of MS is confirmed by evaluation through MRI. Currently, MRI is the most reliable and widely accepted biomarker for the evaluation of multiple sclerosis.

Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis, Demyelination, Myelin sheath, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, demyelinating diseases.