We compared MRI criteria used to predict conversion of suspected multiple sclerosis to clinically definte multiple sclerosis. Seventy-four patients with clinically isolated neurological symptoms suggestive of multiple sclerosis were studied with MRI. Logistic regression analysis was used to remove redundant information, and a diagnostic model was built after each MRI parameter was dichotomized according to maximum accuracy using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Clinically definite

more »

... tiple sclerosis developed in 33 patients (prevalence 45%). The optimum cut-off point (number of lesions) was one for most MRI criteria (including gadolinium-enhancement and juxtacortical lesions), but three for periventricular lesions, and Abbreviations: FLAIR ϭ fluid attenuated inversion recovery; FN ϭ false negative; FP ϭ false positive; NPV ϭ negative predictive value; PPV ϭ positive predictive value; TN ϭ true negative; TP ϭ true positive