Atrophied brain lesion volume, a magnetic resonance imaging biomarker for monitoring neurodegenerative changes in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that is characterized by inflammation, demyelination and axonal loss (1). Since its discovery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with MS (2). Conventional MRI measures, like T2 hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted images (WI) and contrast enhancing (CE) lesions on post-contrast T1-WI are now routinely used to detect therapeutic effects and extend clinical observations (3).