Signal Intensity Changes in the Dentate Nucleus and Globus Pallidus of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Undergoing Multiple Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents

Yasin Ertuğ Çekdemir, Nuri Karabay
2021 The Journal of Tepecik Education and Research Hospital  
Objective: To investigate the correlation between cumulative doses of gadolinium-based contrast agents and increased signal intensity (SI) in the dentate nucleus (DN) and globus pallidus (GP). Methods: Our retrospective trial involved 21 multiple sclerosis patients (11 women, 10 men; mean age: 39.21±10.24, range: 20 to 57 years) who underwent a serial number of multiple cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations in the radiology department of our tertiary care center. Average signal
more » ... ntensities on the DN, pons, GP and thalamus on unenhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were taken into account. The signal intensity in the DN was proportioned to the signal intensity in the pons, whereas the signal intensity in GP to the signal intensity in the thalamus. Any relationship between the DN-to-pons or GP-to-thalamus signal intensity ratios and previous gadolinium-based contrast administrations was sought by means of repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Increases in both DN-to-pons and GP-to-thalamus signal intensity ratios displayed a significant correlation with previous administrations of gadolinium-based contrast agents (p<0.001 for both). A remarkable increase was detected in DN-to-pons and GP-to-thalamus signal intensity ratios between the first and last MRI examinations (p<0.001 for both). Conclusion: Our results support the association between increase in the SI of the DN and GP to the number of gadolinium-enhanced MRI scans in MS patients. The increase in T1 SI seems to be linked with the number of enhanced MRI scans.
doi:10.5222/terh.2021.60490 fatcat:kdwlmlxj6bgflp5rxxvy3rasae