Multiple Sclerosis-Related Pain Syndromes: An Imaging Update

Pain in multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common manifestation, made up of complex phenomenon involving intricate neurophysiological processing at central levels of the pain pathway. Our understanding of the clinical and neurophysiological mechanisms of central/neuropathic pain related to MS continues to improve with improved imaging techniques but remains a challenging area of research. The advancements in imaging techniques for lesion evaluation of the various neuroanatomic structures have improved our detection, diagnosis, and understanding of MS pain and help validate subjective symptoms. This article will discuss the updated criteria of MS neuropathic pain and critically review some of the latest research into imaging correlations of MS pain syndromes. And discuss how advanced MRI imaging techniques (such as functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI], 3D imaging, fluid attenuated inversion recovery [FLAIR*], and diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]) have detailed neuropathic pain with a focus on migraines and trigeminal neuralgias and will highlight some of the ongoing limitations, variabilities, and deficiencies.