summary: MS is diagnosed by the demonstration of lesions disseminated in space and in time. The so-called Barkhof criteria, which are based on the number and location of the lesions seen in the brain of people with MS, have been extensively used to determine dissemination in space and they have proved to be useful in predicting the appearance of a second relapse after a first episode suggestive of MS. The authors of this study have found that not only the Barkhof criteria but also the lesions in the corpus callosum can predict the appearance of the second relapse. Further more, when both Barkhof criteria and lesions in the corpus callosum were combined, the predictive value was stronger.

authors: Jafari N, Kreft KL, Flach HZ, Janssens AC, Hintzen RQ

source: Neurology. 2009 Dec 1;73(22):1837-41

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category: Imaging
category: Diagnosis

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