Assessing MP2RAGE and Contrast-Enhanced MPRAGE MRI Protocols for Consistent Brain Measurements in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Motivation: Accurate brain volume measurements are crucial for monitoring neurodegenerative diseases where brain atrophy serves as a key biomarker. However, variations in MRI protocols and segmentation pipelines can affect the reliability of these measurements. Goal(s): Evaluating how different segmentation pipelines affect structural measurements using contrast-enhanced MPRAGE and MP2RAGE MRI protocols. Approach: We processed scans from 49 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients using both MRI protocols and FreeSurfer versions 6.0.0, 7.4.0, and 8.0.0, extracting cortical volumes and thickness measurements. Results: MP2RAGE scans showed more consistent, reliable volumetric and cortical thickness measurements across FreeSurfer versions, especially for smaller structures like the hippocampus, compared to contrast-enhanced MPRAGE scans. Impact: Adopting the MP2RAGE MRI protocol ensures consistent and reliable brain volume measurements across FreeSurfer versions, enhancing measurement reliability critical for longitudinal studies and clinical assessments in neurodegenerative diseases.