OVErview

In demyelinating and neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) supports diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, assesses prognosis, and improves understanding of the disease. Standardisation and optimisation of MRI acquisition protocols and analysis are therefore critical, both in clinical and research settings. Quantitative methods assessing lesions and atrophy are far less subjective for measuring disease burden in MS, compared with visual inspection, and are moving from research into clinical settings. Structural damage is predictive of motor and cognitive disability and needs to be accurately quantified, also in order to measure response to treatment. Several methods for imaging post-processing have been developed over time with different strengths, limits and scopes. However, whereas quantitative MRI measures have been extensively used in clinical studies and as endpoints in clinical trials, their introduction in the clinical setting has been difficult due to a number of methodological issues.

POST-EVENT RESOURCES

The slide kits and the video-lectures from this educational activity are available. Please click here to access the resources.

Pre-Event Tutorials

These preparatory tutorials provide an overview of the course for the modules focusing on the main goals that attendees will achieve through their learning journey in the field of quantitative MRI. The video scribing format facilitates the understanding of the entire learning path, translating scientific concepts into graphic maps. The tutorials will: 

• Define the importance of quantitative imaging in the evaluation of structural damage in MS
• Explain the main advancements and pitfalls in this field and how to approach quantitative MRI in a critical way

Post Event Tutorials

The post-course tutorials aim to summarise the main topics delivered in the modules. It will provide attendees with tips and practical exercises to help them develop original research projects building on the information gathered during the course. The tutorials will:

• Simplify complex concepts into manageable information
• Efficiently translate the theory of quantitative MRI into working knowledge

Learning objectives 

Through a series of different educational formats - both live and online - the MRILab, facing basic and advanced methodological key aspects related to the use of quantitative measures of lesions and atrophy, aim to achieve the following learning objectives:

• Illustrate the main issues in the standardisation and optimisation of MRI acquisition protocols
• Describe how to facilitate image post-processing
• Discuss strengths and limits of currently used software packages for image quantification
• Deliver full analysis of lesion burden and atrophy in MRI samples.

Accreditation details

The International MRILab A journey from the basics to the advanced methodologies of MRI, Barcelona, Spain, 27/09/2022-29/09/2022 has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) with 16 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Through an agreement between the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes and the American Medical Association, physicians may convert EACCME® credits to an equivalent number of AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Information on the process to convert EACCME® credit to AMA credit can be found at www.ama-assn.org/education/earn-credit-participation-international-activ....

Live educational activities, occurring outside of Canada, recognised by the UEMS-EACCME® for ECMEC®s are deemed to be Accredited Group Learning Activities (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Endorsements

The International MRIlab - A  Journey From The Basics To Advanced Methodologies of MRI, has been endorsed by ECTRIMS and ESNR.