Optimization of cervical cord atrophy measurement using a real-world, multicentre dataset in multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cervical cord atrophy is linked to disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Cervical cord cross-sectional area (CSA) measurement for atrophy quantification using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been technically validated, but information about effects of methodological choices on associations of CSA with clinical variables is lacking.

Aim

Assessing how image acquisition, cord level selection, CSA normalization and segmentation software affect measurement variance, separation of clinical groups, correlations with clinical scores, and to formulate recommendations for future study designs.

Methods

Head and neck 3D-T1-weighted MRI of people with MS (pwMS, N = 85) and healthy controls (HC, N = 19) from five European centers. CSA measurements enc

SUBMITTER: Lukas C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12689376 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature