MRI of the corpus callosum in multiple sclerosis: Association with disability

A. Ozturk, S. A. Smith, E. M. Gordon-Lipkin, D. M. Harrison, N. Shiee, D. L. Pham, B. S. Caffo, P. A. Calabresi, D. S. Reich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

111 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inflammatory demyelination and axon damage in the corpus callosum are prominent features of multiple sclerosis (MS) and may partially account for impaired performance on complex tasks. The objective of this article was to characterize quantitative callosal MRI abnormalities and their association with disability. In 69 participants with MS and 29 healthy volunteers, lesional and extralesional callosal MRI indices were estimated via diffusion tensor tractography. expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and MS functional composite (MSFC) scores were recorded in 53 of the participants with MS. All tested callosal MRI indices were diffusely abnormal in MS. EDSS score was correlated only with age (r = 0.51). Scores on the overall MSFC and its paced serial auditory addition test (PASAT) and 9-hole peg test components were correlated with callosal fractional anisotropy (r = 0.27, 0.35, and 0.31, respectively) and perpendicular diffusivity (r = -0.29, -0.30, and -0.31) but not with overall callosal volume or callosal lesion volume; the PASAT score was more weakly correlated with callosal magnetization-transfer ratio (r = 0.21). Anterior callosal abnormalities were associated with impaired PASAT performance and posterior abnormalities with slow performance on the 9-hole peg test. In conclusion, abnormalities in the corpus callosum can be assessed with quantitative MRI and are associated with cognitive and complex upper-extremity dysfunction in MS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)166-177
Number of pages12
JournalMultiple Sclerosis
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2010

Keywords

  • Cognition
  • Corpus callosum
  • Diffusion tensor imaging
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Magnetization transfer imaging
  • Multiple sclerosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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