Radial kurtosis of the corticospinal tract may have an association with neurologic disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), a recent study found. 40 patients with MS underwent brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging including diffusional kurtosis imaging. After researchers masked out T2 hyperintense lesions, the fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, axial diffusivity, mean kurtosis, radial kurtosis, and axial kurtosis were estimated for the corticospinal tract. Disability was quantified by using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at the time of MR imaging and 12 months post-MR imaging. They found:

• Significant correlations were found between the EDSS scores during the baseline visit and age, T2 lesion volume, corticospinal tract mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, axial diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, and radial kurtosis.
• Significant correlations were also found between the EDSS scores at 12-month follow-up and age, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, axial diffusivity, mean kurtosis, radial kurtosis, and axial kurtosis.