Significance of virchow-robin spaces in patients newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis: a case-control study in an arab population

ABSTRACT

To assess the frequency and extent of dilatation of Virchow-Robin [VR] spaces at three levels of the brain in patients of Arab ethnicity in Kuwait recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis [MS] and compare the results with age-and gender-matched controls. Methods:The magnetic reso-nance imaging [MRI] scans performed within 3 months of the clinical diagnosis of 80 patients recently diagnosed with active MS were compared to those of 80 age- and gender-matched controls with headache but without any neurological deficits for the frequency and size of VR spaces. MRI was done with noncontrast axial and coronal T[1]W FSE, axial T[2]W FSE, axial T[2]W FLAIR and sagittal FLAIR sequences followed by postcontrast axial and coronal T