CMSC 2022 | The importance of standardized MRI protocols in diagnosing and monitoring MS

David Li, MD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, discusses the importance of standardized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing and monitoring multiple sclerosis (MS). MRI scans can visualize lesions present in patients for an earlier diagnosis, but they also harness the capability to trace disease progression in individuals overtime. In these instances, the aim is to observe new lesions that can aid the patient and clinician in deciding whether to initiate disease modifying therapy or switch to an alternative therapy. Therefore, standardizing the MRI process is essential, meaning scans are performed in a similar fashion across scanners, preferably using the same scanner. This ensures that one can obtain similar MRIs from a patient, whereby any changes are due to the disease process and not a technical artefact of the scanner. This interview is a summary of presentations given at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) congress 2022 in Maryland.