Value of T2-MRI features in differentiating ischaemic, vascular inflammatory and primary demyelinating diseases

T2-weighted MRI of 69 patients, in three diagnostic groups: multiple sclerosis (MS) (28 patients), vascular ischaemic disease (34 patients) and vascular inflammatory disease (7 patients), were reviewed without clinical data and white matter lesions were analysed. The prominent features are: MS — diffuse, usually round lesions with blurred edges in the periventricular area and white matter; vascular ischaemic diseases — indented sharply edged lesions with prominent atrophy in over 50% ; and vascular inflammatory disease lesions: lying at the grey/white border with sharp or blurred edges without cerebral atrophy. A diagnostic score was established which assisted in differentiating the three entities.