MRI in MS Consensus Guidelines: Scott D. Newsome, DO; David Li, MD, FRCPC

“I applaud the last 20-plus years…this has not been an insignificant amount of work and number of people that have been involved, where we now finally have a consensus amongst experts, not just here in the Americas, but worldwide."

Experts in multiple sclerosis (MS) have established North American and European consensus recommendations for the use of MRI in patients MS for the first time, allowing for a more unified approach to diagnosis and treatment. The guidelines, published and developed by the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (MAGNIMS) study group; the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC); and the North America Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (NAIMS) MRI Guidelines working group, were developed and adopted by experts in response to technological advancements, new safety data, and numerous clinical updates. 

NeurologyLive discussed the updated guidelines with Scott D. Newsome, DO, president, CMSC, director, Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center at Green Spring Station, and associate professor of neurology, Johns Hopkins Medicine; and David Li, MD, FRCPC, professor of radiology, associate member in neurology, and director, Multiple Sclerosis/MRI Research Group, University of British Columbia. The pair offered unique commentary from the clinical and neuroradiology perspectives and further discussed the benefits of international adoption and adherence. 

New, uniform protocols are of further benefit when considering scanner manufacturers, who will now have standard, MS-type protocol to follow to foster international consistency. Additionally, patients have the comfort of knowing MS experts have reviewed evidence-based studies, collaborated, and decided on the best procedure for scheduling MRIs, as it relates to medication and treatment routes.

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