8-Minute MRI Scan May Replace Painful Lumbar Puncture for Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis: Study Suggests

New Delhi: A new study by experts from the University of Nottingham, published in Neurology journal, has found that multiple sclerosis (MS) can be accurately diagnosed using a specialized MRI scan, eliminating the need for a painful lumbar puncture.

The research introduces an 8-minute T2-weighted MRI scan* that identifies specific lesions in the brain’s white matter centered on veins—a known hallmark of multiple sclerosis. The team developed a diagnostic method called the “rule of six,” where the presence of six such lesions confirms the diagnosis.

The study was conducted with patients who had a suspected but not confirmed multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Each participant underwent both an MRI and a lumbar puncture. After an 18-month follow-up, results showed the MRI scan was just as effective in confirming multiple sclerosis.

The lumbar puncture, often described as painful by patients, can cause complications and typically requires a hospital stay, adding pressure to already stretched healthcare systems. In contrast, the new MRI scan is quick, non-invasive, and allows patients to return home immediately.