Initial brain MRI characteristics of 41 children (<18 years) and 35 adults (>18 years) at multiple sclerosis (MS) onset were analyzed retrospectively in a study at UCSF Regional Pediatric and Adult MS Centers, and University of California, San Francisco. Children had a higher number of total T2- and large T2-bright areas than adults. Children more frequently had T2-bright foci in the posterior fossa and enhancing lesions than adults. Age was the main independent predictor for infratentorial involvement. [1]
COMMENT. Higher disease burden, posterior fossa involvement, and rate of new lesions in pediatric-onset MS are characteristics associated with worse disability progression in adults.