Comparative Evaluation of Microstructural Diffusion Methods in Characterizing Multiple Sclerosis Lesions

Motivation: There is a need for biomarkers that are specific to micrometer-scale cellular features in multiple sclerosis (MS). Goal(s): This study aims to evaluate and compare the sensitivity of various dMRI-based microstructural methods. Approach: We conducted a comparative analysis of five dMRI-based microstructural methods —DTI, DKI, SMI, SMT, and NODDI —assessing the ability of their parameters to differentiate four clinically-relevant white matter tissue types in MS: cBHs (chronic black holes), T2-lesion, cBHs-NAWM, and T2-NAWM. Results: Unlike DTI and DKI, only the multi-compartmental SMI, SMT, and NODDI can effectively distinguish cBHs from T2-lesions, highlighting their potential as more specific biomarkers for MS-related white matter changes. Impact: This study provides a better understanding of how multiple widely-used diffusion methods characterize MS lesions, which can assist in identifying the most effective imaging techniques for more accurate diagnoses in MS clinical practice.