MRI follow-up examinations in multiple sclerosis: Guidelines for quality assurance.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly sensitive to pathological tissue changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, it demonstrates the frequentl y subclinical disease activity and follow-up examinations regularly show th e accumulation of new lesions and the development of atrophy. The increasin g importance of follow-up examinations in MS patients makes it necessary to provide comparable MRI data even over long observation periods. This revie w article focusses on critical variables in this regard and technical issue s; practical guidelines for MRI protocols in MS patients are presented. The influence of field strength, MR systems from different manufacturers, and new software releases is described. Guidelines concerning the graphic plann ing of the examination, sequence protocols, documentation and reporting of cranial MR studies in MS patients are presented.