Table 2.
Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings of evaluable NMOSD and MS patients
| NMOSD (n = 25) | MS (n = 29) | P -value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of MRI studies | 40 | 54 | |
| Location of lesions | |||
| Juxtacortical region (%) | 15(60) | 20(69) | 0.573 |
| Subcortical region (%) | 19(76) | 21(73) | 1.000 |
| Basal ganglion (%) | 15(60) | 16(55) | 0.787 |
| Periventricular region (%) | 15(60) | 22(76) | 0.250 |
| Temporal lobe (%) | 9(36) | 13(45) | 0.585 |
| Infra-tentorium (%) | 10(40) | 20(69) | 0.054 |
| Central/dorsal medulla (%) | 4(16) | 7(24) | 0.517 |
| Corpus callosum (%) | 1(4) | 10(34) | 0.007* |
| Periaqueductal gray(%) | 8(32) | 10(34) | 1.000 |
| Unilateral (%) | 2(8) | 8(28) | 0.086 |
| Bilateral (%) | 6(24) | 2(7) | 0.125 |
| Hypothalamus (%) | 5(20) | 2(7) | 0.229 |
| Fit McDonald criteria (DIS) | 15(60) | 22(76) | 0.250 |
| Fit Matthews criteria† | 15(60) | 23(79) | 0.145 |
| Morphological patterns | |||
| U fiber lesion (%) | 12(48) | 18(62) | 0.411 |
| Dawson finger lesion (%) | 11(44) | 16(55) | 0.586 |
| Tumefactive lesion >3 cm (%) | 2(8) | 1(3) | 0.591 |
| Punctate lesion (%) | 16(64) | 8(28) | 0.013* |
| Linear ependymal lesion (%) | 7(28) | 0(0) | 0.003* |
| Ependymal dot lesion (%) | 3(12) | 10(34) | 0.065 |
NMOSD: neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder; MS: multiple sclerosis; McDonald criteria (DIS): 2010 McDonald dissemination in space criteria.
*Statistically significant difference between NMOSD and MS.
†The Matthews criteria used for separating MS from NMOSD: at least 1 lesion adjacent to the body of the lateral ventricle and in the inferior temporal lobe; or the presence of a subcortical U-fiber lesion or a Dawson finger-type lesion.