Neuroradiologists and neurologists from University Hospitals of Heidelberg and Wurzburg said that in an animal model of multiple sclerosis, they have used a new contract medium -- Gadofluorine M -- to visualize inflammatory tissue damage, most of which had previously remained unrecognized.

Drug treatments are most effective during the early stage of the disease, the researchers noted. But, up to now, an early diagnosis could not be frequently established with certainty, especially if no or very few inflammatory lesions are present on an MRI scan.

"With this new contrast medium, we were able to visualize five to 10 times more foci of inflammation in comparison to conventional MRI images and contrast media", said Professor Martin Bendszus, medical director of the Department of Neuroradiology at the University Hospital of Heidelberg.

The research appears in the online edition of the journal Brain.