The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Early Diagnosis and Monitoring of Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated, demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that mainly affects young adults. Inflammation in the brain and spinal cord is accompanied by demyelination, axonal loss, and gliosis. The disease course is sometimes very uncertain with the changes from relapse to remission and vice versa, therefore making early and correct diagnosis the cornerstone of an effective treatment(1). Around the world, MS is responsible for approximately 2.8 million cases. The disease is more common in women than men and the prevalence of the disease is higher among people living at a greater distance from the equator, which is suggestive of a role for heredity and the environment in its etiology. The average age of onset has been reported in the range of 20-40 years, which means it is among the main causes of neuro-disability without trauma in young adults(2).