Adopting New Consensus Guidelines for MRI in MS: Scott D. Newsome, DO

“It’s taken some work, but I can tell you it’s amazing, when you put the effort forward and you show people how easy it is to adopt these protocols, people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, we should’ve been doing this for years.’”

In conversation with NeurologyLive, Scott D. Newsome, DO, president, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), director, Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center at Green Spring Station, and associate professor of neurology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, spoke on the importance of adopting new consensus guidelines as a way to improve patient care and save time in early stages of MS diagnosis. 

Newsome spoke specifically about TREAT-MS, a multicenter, US-based, randomized, controlled trial aimed at identified the best treatment strategy for patients newly diagnosed with MS. Newsome further commented on the challenge in trying to streamline protocol across treatment centers; however, when discussing the benefits and ease of adoption, radiology centers are willing and eager to adopt new and uniform guidelines, he said.

The consensus guidelines represent the first time that protocol for the use of MRI in patients with MS has been internationally aligned. The new guidelines were published and developed by the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (MAGNIMS) study group; the CMSC; and the North America Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (NAIMS) MRI Guidelines working group.

REFERENCE

Wattjes MP, Ciccarelli O, Reich DS, et al; 2021 MAGNIMS-CMSC-NAIMS consensus recommendations on the use of MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis. Lancet Neurol. Published online June 14, 2021. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00095-8