Magnetic resonance (MR) images can be used to detect lesions in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). An automatic method is presented for segmentation of MS lesions using multispectral MR images in this paper. Firstly, a Pd-w image is subtracted from its corresponding T1-w images to get an image in which the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is enhanced. Secondly, based on kernel fuzzy c-means clustering (KFCM) algorithm, the enhanced image and the corresponding T2-w image are segmented respectively to extract the CSF region and the CSF-MS lesions combinatoin region. A raw MS lesions image is obtained by subtracting the CSF region from CSF-MS region. Thirdly, based on applying median filter and thresholding to the raw image, the MS lesions were detected finally. Results were tested on BrainWeb images and evaluated with Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), sensitivity (Sens), specificity (Spec) and accuracy (Acc). The testing results were satisfactory.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different doses of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods We searched for randomized controlled trials of different doses of IVIG in the treatment of RRMS. We screened the retrieved studies according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the quality of included studies, and performed meta-analyses with The Cochrane Collaboration’s Revman 4.2.0 software. Results Three randomized controlled trials of different dose of IVIG in the treatment of RRMS were included. One was of high quality and the other two were of lower quality. Heterogeneity was identified in one study which reported IVIG in postpartum RRMS. Two studies reported the relapsefree rate and no significant difference was noted between IVIG and placebo. Two studies reported the annual relapse rate, and no significant difference was observed (OR -0.00, 95% CI -0.36 to 0.36, P=0.98). Two studies reported the MRI lesions, and no difference was identified, either. The incidence of adverse events was similar between IVIG and placebo. Conclusion There is insufficient evidence to support the dose-effect relationship of IVIG in the treatment of RRMS. Therefore, an individualized dosing regimen should be applied according to patients’ tolerance and economic status.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) manifestations, pathological and clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with new lesion in medulla oblongata (MO).MethodsPubMed, EBSCO, and Springer databases between January 1st, 2000 and May 1st, 2018 were searched with the combined keywords of " multiple sclerosis” and " medulla oblongata”. Furthermore, the MS patients’ MRI manifestations, pathological and clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes were summarized.ResultsA total of 18 papers were involved, in which 26 patients were included. The lesions in MO were mainly showed by wedge-shape (9/20), and round or oval-shape (9/20) in axial head MRI. Inflammatory cells infiltration and acute demyelination in the new lesions of MO had been displayed by autopsy reports of two MS patients. The new lesions in MO mainly referred to various types of nystagmus (9/26), left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome (LVABS) (8/26), neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) (6/26), and acute heart failure (6/26). Nucleus tracts solitaries (NTS), along with dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve and medial reticular formation (MRF), was related to LVABS and NPE. Intercalatus nucleus, Roller nucleus and/or autonomic nerve structure were related to various types of nystagmus.ConclusionsIn axial head MRI, the new MS lesions in MO were mainly wedge-shape and round or oval-shape. Beyond that, the new MS lesions in MO could involve NTS, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, MRF, intercalatus nucleus, Roller nucleus and/or autonomic nerve structure, resulting in special clinical features, such as, nystagmus, LVABS, NPE, and acute heart failure. Corticosteroid is still the main treatment to relieve the clinical manifestations caused by new MS lesions in MO.
A multi-label based level set model for multiple sclerosis lesion segmentation is proposed based on the shape, position and other information of lesions from magnetic resonance image. First, fuzzy c-means model is applied to extract the initial lesion region. Second, an intensity prior information term and a label fusion term are constructed using intensity information of the initial lesion region, the above two terms are integrated into a region-based level set model. The final lesion segmentation is achieved by evolving the level set contour. The experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately and robustly extract brain lesions from magnetic resonance images. The proposed method helps to reduce the work of radiologists significantly, which is useful in clinical application.
ObjectiveTo observe the features of the manifestations of fundus fluorescein angiography （FFA） in multiple sclerosis （MS） and their value in clinical diagnosis.MethodsThe clinical data of 42 patients (84 eyes) with MS diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical data included visual acuity, ocular fundus examined by direct ophthalmoscope after mydriasis, FFA, visual field, CSF，visual evoked potential (VEP) and MRI examination.ResultsIn 42 patients (84 eyes),the positive detectable rate of examination of direct ophthalmoscope, CSF, visual field, VEP, and MRI was 36.9%, 21.4%, 71.4%, and 83.3% respectively. Abnormal results of FFA were found in 44 eyes (52.38%), including papillitis in 4 eyes（4.76%）at the early stage with extended physiological scotoma and central scotoma; neuroretinitis in 7 eyes （8.33%）at the medium stage with central or para-central scotoma; optic atrophy in 33 eyes（39.29%） at the late stage with centripetal constriction and even tubular visual field. ConclusionThe main angiographic features of MS are papillitis, neuroretinitis and optic atrophy. The manifestations of FFA combined with the results of examination of CSF，visual field, VEP and MRI is helpful for comprehensive and exact diagnosis of MS.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:300-302)
多发性硬化临床表现多样,其中大脑半球型多表现为精神症状、癫痫、偏瘫或感觉异常等,而以截瘫及排尿障碍为表现者少见。本文对表现为“脑性截瘫”的3 例MS患者的临床和MRI特点进行回顾分析,以此提高对于MS的认识水平。
【摘要】 目的 分析合并免疫指标异常的视神经脊髓炎临床特点。 方法 回顾性分析2009年5月-2010年11月收治的62例视神经脊髓炎患者中24例合并免疫指标异常患者的临床资料。24例均为女性，发病年龄14~53岁。对其临床表现、视觉诱发电位、影像学检查结果、免疫检查结果进行分析。 结果 所有患者均有脊髓和视神经同时或先后受累的表现。24例视觉诱发电位检查23例异常。脊髓MRI显示病变集中于颈段、上胸段脊髓。颈段和胸段脊髓同时受累17例，单纯颈段脊髓受损6例，单纯胸段脊髓受损1例。所有患者抗核抗体滴度均≥1∶100，合并抗SSA抗体阳性14例（55.5％），同时合并抗SSB抗体阳性11例（45.8％），合并抗Rib抗体阳性1例，合并抗SCL-70抗体阳性1例，合并抗dsDNA抗体1例。 结论 视神经脊髓炎合并免疫指标异常的患者以女性较为多见，易复发，青壮年患者发病率最高。脊髓MRI示病变集中于颈段、上胸段脊髓，表现为长节段脊髓损害。视神经脊髓炎患者合并结缔组织病的病例较多。【Abstract】 Objective To analyze the clinical features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) combined with abnormal immune parameters. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 24 patients with NMO and abnormal immune parameters among the 62 NMO patients who were admitted into our department between May 2009 and November 2010. All patients were female, aged from 14 to 53 years. We analyzed their clinical manifestations, visual evoked potentials, imaging results, and immunological examinations. Results All patients had simultaneous or successive spinal cord and optic nerve involvement. Twenty-three patients had abnormal visual evoked potential. MRI showed that the lesions focused on the cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord. Both cervical and thoracic spinal cord were involved in 17 cases; there were 6 cases of simple cervical spinal cord injury and 1 case of simple thoracic spinal cord damage. Antinuclear antibody titer of all the patients was ≥1∶100. Combined positive anti-SSA antibody occurred in 14 patients (55.5%); Concomitant positive anti-SSB antibodies occurred in 11 patients (45.8%); Combined positive anti-Rib antibodies occurred in 1 patient; Combined positive anti-SCL-70 antibody occurred in 1 patient; and combined positive anti-dsDNA antibodies occurred in 1 patient. Conclusions NMO combined with abnormal immune parameters mainly occurs in female patients, especially in young people. Recurrence rate is high. MRI shows that the lesions focus mainly on the cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord, manifesting the characteristic of long segment damage. And NMO is frequently combined with connective tissue disease.
目的：探讨复发型视神经脊髓炎(relapsing neuromyelitis optica，R-NMO)与复发型多发性硬化(relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis，RRMS)患者视神经的MRI影像表现。方法：对临床满足R-NMO最新Wingerchuk等制定的诊断标准及满足最新McDonald诊断标准的RRMS患者，进行脑部、脊髓及视神经的扫描，并将两组复发型患者视神经MRI表现特点，与32位健康自愿者进行对照研究。同时回顾性分析患者的VEP检查结果。结果：41例R-NMO患者MRI检查显示患者均有单侧或双侧视神经鞘膜腔信号明显增高，呈“轨道样”改变，22例患者(53.7%)伴有视神经增粗，或(和)扭曲，17例(41.5%)可看视神经内点状高信号表现。随着病程的延长，15例(36.6%)MRI上可见单侧或双侧视神经萎缩、变细，甚至扭曲。最终35例(80.5%)视神经内见到点状高信号表现。121例RRMS患者中，共81名(66.9%)患者在MRI上见到了视神经的异常表现，主要表现为单侧或双侧视神经鞘膜腔部分节段或全段呈“轨道样”高信号改变，其中23例(28.4%)表现为视神经球球后起始段局限性信号增高，视神经15例(12.4%)伴有视神经的肿胀，但视神经萎缩不及R-NMO患者明显。随着时间延长，12例(9.9%)可见视神经内点状高信号脱髓鞘改变。两组患者P100峰值延迟时间差异具有统计学意义(Plt;0.05)。结论：MRI可以成为视神经炎的首选影像学检查方法。两组患者MRI与VEP检查结果存在一定的差异性，可以成为鉴别诊断的依据。