SWAN-Venule: An Optimized MRI Technique to Detect the Central Vein Sign in MS Plaques

Fellows’ Journal Club

Multiple sclerosis lesions develop around small veins that are radiologically described as the so-called central vein sign. With 7T MR imaging and magnetic susceptibility-based sequences, the central vein sign has been observed in 80%–100% of MS lesions in patients’ brains. However, a lower proportion ∼50% has been reported at 3T using SWAN. The authors’ aim was to assess a modified version of SWAN optimized at 3T for sensitive detection of the central vein sign. Thirty subjects with MS were scanned on a 3T clinical MR imaging system. 3D T2-weighted FLAIR and optimized 3D SWAN, called SWAN-venule, were acquired after injection of a gadolinium-based contrast agent. Overall, the central vein sign was detected in 86% of the white matter lesions (periventricular, 89%; deep white matter, 95%; and juxtacortical, 78%). The SWAN-venule technique is an optimized MR imaging sequence for highly sensitive detection of the central vein sign in MS brain lesions.

Abstract

Figure 2 from Gaitán et al
SWAN-venule acquired in 3 subjects with RRMS. A, Examples of lesions with central veins in 3 planes. In each raw, arrows point the same lesion in three different planes. An example of a deep white matter (DWM) lesion, a periventricular lesion, and a juxtacortical lesion shows the central vein in 3 different planes. B, Example of 2 deep white matter lesions that developed along the same vein. PV indicates periventricular; JC, juxtacortical.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Multiple sclerosis lesions develop around small veins that are radiologically described as the so-called central vein sign. With 7T MR imaging and magnetic susceptibility–based sequences, the central vein sign has been observed in 80%–100% of MS lesions in patients’ brains. However, a lower proportion ∼50% has been reported at 3T using susceptibility-weighted angiography (SWAN). Our aim was to assess a modified version of SWAN optimized at 3T for sensitive detection of the central vein sign.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty subjects with MS were scanned on a 3T clinical MR imaging system. 3D T2-weighted FLAIR and optimized 3D SWAN called SWAN-venule, were acquired after injection of a gadolinium-based contrast agent. Patients showing >3 focal white matter lesions were included. The central vein sign was recorded by 2 trained raters on SWAN-venule images in the supratentorial brain.

RESULTS

Twenty patients showing >3 white matter lesions were included. A total of 380 white matter lesions (135 periventricular, 144 deep white matter, and 101 juxtacortical) seen on both FLAIR and SWAN-venule images were analyzed. Overall, the central vein sign was detected in 86% of the white matter lesions (periventricular, 89%; deep white matter, 95%; and juxtacortical, 78%).

CONCLUSIONS

The SWAN-venule technique is an optimized MR imaging sequence for highly sensitive detection of the central vein sign in MS brain lesions. This work will facilitate the validation and integration of the central vein sign to increase the diagnostic certainty of MS and further prevent misdiagnosis in clinical practice.

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SWAN-Venule: An Optimized MRI Technique to Detect the Central Vein Sign in MS Plaques
Jeffrey Ross
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