Neuroinflammation Imaging Lab (NIL)
ions | Bruxelles Woluwe, Louvain-la-Neuve
The standard MRI protocols routinely used for MS diagnosis have a limited specificity for the underlying brain pathology, possibly resulting in wrong diagnosis and incorrect treatments for patients. At the same time, using the same routine imaging protocols, the pathological heterogeneity of what is currently diagnosed as "MS" is probably underestimated, limiting the application of MRI as a tool to guide individually tailored treatment. The major goal of our research is to combine advanced and more established imaging, laboratory and clinical data in order i) to "dissect" the pathological heterogeneity between MS and mimicking disorders, ii) identify different pathological entities within the "MS spectrum" itself and, iii) evaluate clinical course and response-to-treatment based on the extracted multimodal features.
Thanks to the very productive collaboration between highly experienced clinicians (at Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc), talented neuroimaging scientists (NEUR, Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS), UCLouvain) and neuroimmunologists (CEMO, Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS), UCLouvain), we perform advanced MRI on neuroinflammatory patients, and we study the association between imaging, clinical and biological features.
Pietro Maggi
2021-present, principal investigator
Colin Vanden Bulke
2021-present, PhD student
Maxence Wynen
2021-present, PhD student
Anna Stölting
2022-present, PhD student
Serena Borrelli
2023-present, PhD student
Elena Barbuti
2025-present, PhD student
François Guisset
2023-present, visiting fellow
Publications
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2025Van Boxstael, E., de Hennin, A., Vigneul, E., Scoppettuolo, P., El Sankari, S., Bocchio, A. P., Borrelli, S., Lolli, V., Van Pesch, V., Slootjes, S. M., Finet, P., Rovira, À., Reich, D. S., & Maggi, P. (2025). Posterior fossa ring-enhancing lesions in the adult immunocompetent host: illustrative cases, systematic review, and proposed diagnostic algorithm. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 46(8), 1534-1541. https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A8677 (Original work published 2025)
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Molchanova, N., Cagol, A., Ocampo-Pineda, M., Lu, P.-J., Weigel, M., Chen, X., Beck, E. S., Tsagkas, C., Reich, D. S., Vanden Bulcke, C., Stölting, A., Borrelli, S., Maggi, P., Depeursinge, A., Granziera, C., Müller, H., Gordalizad, P. M., & Cuadra, M. B. (2025). Benchmarking and Explaining Deep Learning Cortical Lesion MRI Segmentation in Multiple Sclerosis. ArXiv. Accepted/in-press. https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.52220 (Original work published 2025)
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Deltombe, M., Stölting, A., Maggi, P., & Van Pesch, V. (2025). FCRL5, a B-Cell Marker With Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Value for Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation, 12(6), 2332-7812. https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000200485 (Original work published 2025)
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Wynen, M., Gordaliza, P. M., Istasse, M., Stölting, A., Maggi, P., Macq, B., & Bach Cuadra, M. (2025). ConfLUNet: Multiple sclerosis lesion instance segmentation in presence of confluent lesions. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 197(A), 110919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.110919 (Original work published 2025)
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Borrelli, S., & Maggi, P. (2025). The combination of central vein sign, cortical lesions, and paramagnetic rim lesions for differentiating MOGAD from MS: a case report. Acta Neurologica Belgica, 125(1), 1-280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-024-02717-4 (Original work published 2025)
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Borrelli, S., Guisset, F., Farneti, M., Stölting, A., Vanden Bulcke, C., Bayart, J.-L., Deltombe, M., van Pesch, V., Leclercq, S., & Maggi, P. (2025). Dietary habits and advanced imaging/laboratory markers in multiple sclerosis: An exploratory cross-sectional study. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 32(1), 69-79. https://doi.org/10.1177/13524585251405695 (Original work published 2025)
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Martire, M. S., Moiola, L., Maggi, P., Borrelli, S., Novati, V., Martinelli, V., Rocca, M. A., Vezzulli, P., Falini, A., Filippi, M., & Absinta, M. (2025). Reliability of paramagnetic rim lesion detection at 1.5T MRI in multiple sclerosis patients. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 31(2), 13524585251314358. https://doi.org/10.1177/13524585251314358 (Original work published 2025)
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Fagiani, F., Pedrini, E., Martire, M. S., Gastoldi, G., Vanden Bulcke, C., Lin, J.-P., Maric, D., Brambilla, E., Ruffini, F., Peri, C., Calabresi, P. A., Maggi, P., Panina-Bordignon, P., Martino, G., Reich, D. S., & Absinta, M. (2025). Spatially-restricted inflammation-induced senescent-like glia in multiple sclerosis and patient-derived organoids. Nature Communications, 16(1), 8477. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63371-9 (Original work published 2025)
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2024Borrelli, S., Leclercq, S., Pasi, M., & Maggi, P. (2024). Cerebral small vessel disease and glymphatic system dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: A narrative review. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 91(10), 105878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2024.105878 (Original work published 2024)
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Stölting, A., Vanden Bulcke, C., Borrelli, S., Bugli, C., Du Pasquier, R., Van Pesch, V., & Maggi, P. (2024). Clinical relevance of paramagnetic rim lesion heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 11(12), 3137-3151. https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.52220 (Original work published 2024)
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Borrelli, S., Guisset, F., Vanden Bulcke, C., Stölting, A., Bugli, C., Lolli, V., Du Pasquier, R., van Pesch, V., Absinta, M., Pasi, M., & Maggi, P. (2024). Enlarged perivascular spaces are associated with brain microangiopathy and aging in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. Published. https://doi.org/10.1177/13524585241256881 (Original work published 2024)
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Borrelli, S., Martire, M. S., Stölting, A., Vanden Bulcke, C., Pedrini, E., Guisset, F., Bugli, C., Yildiz, H., Pothen, L., Elands, S., Martinelli, V., Smith, B., Jacobson, S., Du Pasquier, R. A., Van Pesch, V., Filippi, M., Reich, D. S., Absinta, M., & Maggi, P. (2024). Central Vein Sign, Cortical Lesions, and Paramagnetic Rim Lesions for the Diagnostic and Prognostic Workup of Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, 11(4 (2024) (2024)). https://doi.org/10.1212/nxi.0000000000200253 (Original work published 2024)
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Cagol, A., Cortese, R., Barakovic, M., Schaedelin, S., Ruberte, E., Absinta, M., Barkhof, F., Calabrese, M., Castellaro, M., Ciccarelli, O., Cocozza, S., De Stefano, N., Enzinger, C., Filippi, M., Jurynczyk, M., Maggi, P., Mahmoudi, N., Messina, S., Montalban, X., et al. (2024). Diagnostic Performance of Cortical Lesions and the Central Vein Sign in Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA Neurology, 81(2), 143-153. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.4737 (Original work published 2024)
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Maggi, P., Absinta, M., & et al. (2024). Emerging MRI biomarkers for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 14(30), 1704-1713. https://doi.org/10.1177/13524585241293 (Original work published 2024)
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Vanden Bulcke, C., Stölting, A., Maric, D., Macq, B., Absinta, M., & Maggi, P. (2024). Comparative overview of multi-shell diffusion MRI models to characterize the microstructure of multiple sclerosis lesions and periplaques. NeuroImage: Clinical, 42, 103593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103593 (Original work published 2024)
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2023Maggi, P., Vanden Bulcke, C., Pedrini, E., Bugli, C., Sellimi, A., Wynen, M., Stölting, A., Mullins, W., Kalaitzidis, G., Lolli, V., Perrotta, G., El Sankari, S., Duprez, T., Li, X., Calabresi, P., Van Pesch, V., Reich, D., & Absinta, M. (2023). B cell depletion therapy does not resolve chronic active multiple sclerosis lesions. EBioMedicine, 94, 104701 [1-15]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104701 (Original work published 2023)
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Filippi, M., Preziosa, P., Arnold, D. L., Barkhof, F., Harrison, D. M., Maggi, P., Mainero, C., Montalban, X., Sechi, E., Weinshenker, B. G., & Rocca, M. A. (2023). Present and future of the diagnostic work-up of multiple sclerosis: the imaging perspective. Journal of neurology, 270(3), 1286-1299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-022-11488-y (Original work published 2023)
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2022Singh, B., Lant, S., Cividini, S., Cattrall, J. W. S., Goodwin, L. C., Benjamin, L., Michael, B. D., Khawaja, A., Matos, A. d. M. B., Alkeridy, W., Pilotto, A., Lahiri, D., Rawlinson, R., Mhlanga, S., Lopez, E. C., Sargent, B. F., Somasundaran, A., Tamborska, A., Webb, G., et al. (2022). Prognostic indicators and outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients with neurological disease: An individual patient data meta-analysis. PLoS One, 17(6), e0263595. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263595 (Original work published 2022)
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Vanden Bulcke, C., Wynen, M., Debotel, J., La Rosa, F., Absinta, M., Dricot, L., Macq, B., Bach Cuadra, M., Maggi, P., & et al. (2022). BMAT: An open-source BIDS managing and analysis tool. NeuroImage: Clinical, 36, 103252 [1-8]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103252 (Original work published 2022)
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La Rosa, F., Wynen, M., Al-Louzi, O., Beck, E. S., Huelnhagen, T., Maggi, P., Thiran, J.-P., Kober, T., Shinohara, R. T., Sati, P., Reich, D. S., Granziera, C., Absinta, M., & Bach Cuadra, M. (2022). Cortical lesions, central vein sign, and paramagnetic rim lesions in multiple sclerosis: Emerging machine learning techniques and future avenues. NeuroImage: Clinical, 36, 103205 [1-14]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103205 (Original work published 2022)
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2021Maggi, P., Kuhle, J., Schädelin, S., van der Meer, F., Weigel, M., Galbusera, R., Mathias, A., Lu, P.-J., Rahmanzadeh, R., Benkert, P., La Rosa, F., Bach Cuadra, M., Sati, P., Théaudin, M., Pot, C., Van Pesch, V., Leppert, D., Stadelmann, C., Kappos, L., et al. (2021). Chronic White Matter Inflammation and Serum Neurofilament Levels in Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology, 97(6), e543-e553. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000012326 (Original work published 2021)
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Guilmot, A., Maldonado Slootjes, S. I., Sellimi, A., Bronchain, M., Hanseeuw, B., Belkhir, L., Yombi, J. C., De Greef, J., Pothen, L., Yildiz, H., Duprez, T., Fillee, C., Anantharajah, A., Capes, A., Hantson, P., Jacquerye, P., Raymackers, J.-M., London, F., El Sankari, S., et al. (2021). Immune-mediated neurological syndromes in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Journal of neurology, 268(3), 751-757. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-10108-x (Original work published 2021)
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Rahmanzadeh, R., Lu, P.-J., Barakovic, M., Weigel, M., Maggi, P., Nguyen, T. D., Schiavi, S., Daducci, A., La Rosa, F., Schaedelin, S., Absinta, M., Reich, D. S., Sati, P., Wang, Y., Bach Cuadra, M., Radue, E.-W., Kuhle, J., Kappos, L., & Granziera, C. (2021). Myelin and axon pathology in multiple sclerosis assessed by myelin water and multi-shell diffusion imaging. Brain : a journal of neurology, 144(6), 1684-1696. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab088 (Original work published 2021)
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2020Maggi, P., Absinta, M., Sati, P., Perrotta, G., Massacesi, L., Dachy, B., Pot, C., Meuli, R., Reich, D. S., Filippi, M., Pasquier, R. D., & Théaudin, M. (2020). The “central vein sign” in patients with diagnostic “red flags” for multiple sclerosis: A prospective multicenter 3T study. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 26(4), 421-432. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458519876031 (Original work published 2020)
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Maggi, P., Sati, P., Nair, G., Cortese, I. C. M., Jacobson, S., Smith, B. R., Nath, A., Ohayon, J., Van Pesch, V., Perrotta, G., Pot, C., Théaudin, M., Martinelli, V., Scotti, R., Wu, T., Du Pasquier, R., Calabresi, P. A., Filippi, M., Reich, D. S., & Absinta, M. (2020). Paramagnetic Rim Lesions are Specific to Multiple Sclerosis: An International Multicenter 3T MRI Study. Annals of Neurology, 88(5), 1034-1042. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.25877 (Original work published 2020)
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Barquero, G., La Rosa, F., Kebiri, H., Lu, P.-J., Rahmanzadeh, R., Weigel, M., Fartaria, M. J., Kober, T., Théaudin, M., Du Pasquier, R., Sati, P., Reich, D. S., Absinta, M., Granziera, C., Maggi, P., & Bach Cuadra, M. (2020). RimNet: A deep 3D multimodal MRI architecture for paramagnetic rim lesion assessment in multiple sclerosis. NeuroImage: Clinical, 28, 102412 [1-11]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102412 (Original work published 2020)
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Guisset, F., Lolli, V., Bugli, C., Perrotta, G., Absil, J., Dachy, B., Pot, C., Théaudin, M., Pasi, M., Van Pesch, V., & Maggi, P. (2020). The central vein sign in multiple sclerosis patients with vascular comorbidities. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458520943785 (Original work published 2020)
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Maggi, P., Guilmot, A., Maldonado Slootjes, S., Huart, C., Hanseeuw, B., Duprez, T., De Greef, J., Belkhir, L., Yombi, J. C., Ivanoiu, A., & Van Pesch, V. (2020). Implications neurologiques de l’infection à SARS-CoV-2. Louvain médical, 139(05-06), 312-314. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/246011 (Original work published 2020)
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Maggi, P., Fartaria, M. J., Jorge, J., La Rosa, F., Absinta, M., Sati, P., Meuli, R., Du Pasquier, R., Reich, D. S., Cuadra, M. B., Granziera, C., Richiardi, J., & Kober, T. (2020). CVSnet: A machine learning approach for automated central vein sign assessment in multiple sclerosis. NMR in Biomedicine, 33(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.4283 (Original work published 2020)
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2019Lysandropoulos, A. P., Perrotta, G., Billiet, T., Ribbens, A., Du Pasquier, R., Pot Kreis, C., Maggi, P., & Théaudin, M. (2019). Human Leukocyte Antigen Genotype as a Marker of Multiple Sclerosis Prognosis. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 47(2), 189-196. https://doi.org/10.1017/cjn.2019.329 (Original work published 2019)
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2018D’Elios, M. M., Aldinucci, A., Amoriello, R., Benagiano, M., Bonechi, E., Maggi, P., Flori, A., Ravagli, C., Saer, D., Cappiello, L., Conti, L., Valtancoli, B., Bencini, A., Menichetti, L., Baldi, G., & Ballerini, C. (2018). Myelin-specific T cells carry and release magnetite PGLA–PEG COOH nanoparticles in the mouse central nervous system. RSC Advances, 8(2), 904-913. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ra11290d (Original work published 2018)
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Maggi, P., Absinta, M., Grammatico, M., Vuolo, L., Emmi, G., Carlucci, G., Spagni, G., Barilaro, A., Repice, A. M., Emmi, L., Prisco, D., Martinelli, V., Scotti, R., Sadeghi, N., Perrotta, G., Sati, P., Dachy, B., Reich, D. S., Filippi, M., & Massacesi, L. (2018). Central vein sign differentiates Multiple Sclerosis from central nervous system inflammatory vasculopathies. Annals of Neurology, 83(2), 283-294. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.25146 (Original work published 2018)
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2017Maggi, P., Sati, P., & Massacesi, L. (2017). Magnetic resonance imaging of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the common marmoset. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 304, 86-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2016.09.016 (Original work published 2017)
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2016Maggi, P., Bier, J. C., & De Breucker, S. (2016). Massive subdural haematoma and dementia: a “yin and yang” paradigm. The Medical journal of Australia, 204(3), 126-e1. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja15.01043 (Original work published 2016)
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2015Ballerini, C., Baldi, G., Aldinucci, A., & Maggi, P. (2015). Nanomaterial Applications in Multiple Sclerosis Inflamed Brain. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 10(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-015-9588-y (Original work published 2015)
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Maggi, P., Mazzoni, L. N., Moretti, M., Grammatico, M., Chiti, S., & Massacesi, L. (2015). SWI enhances vein detection using gadolinium in multiple sclerosis. Acta Radiologica Open, 4(3), 2047981614560938. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047981614560938 (Original work published 2015)
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2014Gaitán, M. I., Maggi, P., Wohler, J., Leibovitch, E., Sati, P., Calandri, I. L., Merkle, H., Massacesi, L., Silva, A. C., Jacobson, S., & Reich, D. S. (2014). Perivenular brain lesions in a primate multiple sclerosis model at 7-tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 20(1), 64-71. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458513492244 (Original work published 2013)
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Maggi, P., Macri, S. M. C., Gaitán, M. I., Leibovitch, E., Wholer, J. E., Knight, H. L., Ellis, M., Wu, T., Silva, A. C., Massacesi, L., Jacobson, S., Westmoreland, S., & Reich, D. S. (2014). The formation of inflammatory demyelinated lesions in cerebral white matter. Annals of Neurology, 76(4), 594-608. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24242 (Original work published 2014)
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2013Leibovitch, E., Wohler, J. E., Cummings Macri, S. M., Motanic, K., Harberts, E., Gaitán, M. I., Maggi, P., Ellis, M., Westmoreland, S., Silva, A., Reich, D. S., & Jacobson, S. (2013). Novel marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) model of human Herpesvirus 6A and 6B infections: immunologic, virologic and radiologic characterization. PLoS Pathogens, 9(1), e1003138. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003138 (Original work published 2013)
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Absinta, M., Sati, P., Gaitán, M. I., Maggi, P., Cortese, I. C. M., Filippi, M., & Reich, D. S. (2013). Seven-tesla phase imaging of acute multiple sclerosis lesions: A new window into the inflammatory process : MS Lesions at 7T Phase Imaging. Annals of Neurology, 74(5), 669-678. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.23959 (Original work published 2013)
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2025Stölting, A., Vanden Bulcke, C., Borrelli, S., Deltombe, M., Bayart, J.-L., Bugli, C., Perdaens, O., Guisset, F., Van Pesch, V., María I. Gaitán, Martina Absinta, Daniel S. Reich, & Maggi, P. (2025). Pathophysiological and clinical implications of PRL heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis. Belgian MS Researcher Day 2025, Leuven, Belgium. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/247606
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Stölting, A., Vanden Bulcke, C., Borrelli, S., Deltombe, M., Bayart, J.-L., Bugli, C., Perdaens, O., Guisset, F., Van Pesch, V., & Maggi, P. (2025). The evolution of tissue damage in paramagnetic rim lesions. ARSEP 2025, Paris, France. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/247604
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2024El Khoury, K., Wynen, M., Maggi, P., Meritxell Bach Cuadra, Macq, B., & et al. (2024). IMPROVING 3D LESION SEGMENTATION ROBUSTNESS AGAINST IMAGE COMPRESSION IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. 21st IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI 2024), Athens, Greece. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/247687
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Wynen, M., Istasse, M., Pedro Macias Gordaliza, Stölting, A., Maggi, P., Macq, B., & Meritxell Bach Cuadra. (2024). ConfLUNet: Improving Confluent Lesion Identification in Multiple Sclerosis using Instance Segmentation. International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI), Athens, Greece. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/260710
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Wynen, M., Gordaliza, P. M., Stölting, A., Maggi, P., Bach Cuadra, M., & Macq, B. (2024). Multi-modal segmentation for paramagnetic rim lesion detection in multiple sclerosis. Published. Imaging Informatics for Healthcare, Research, and Applications, San Diego, United States. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3005951
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2023Stölting, A., Vanden Bulcke, C., Macq, B., & Maggi, P. (2023). ADVANCED DIFFUSION IMAGING METHODS TO ASSESS THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS LESIONS. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Toronto. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/26272
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Stölting, A., & Maggi, P. (2023). MS Chronic Active Lesions. Belgian MS Symposium 2023, Brussels, Belgium. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/102839
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Stölting, A., & Maggi, P. (2023). Nouveaux Biomarqueurs en IRM pour les pathologies Neuro-inflammatoires. Club de Neuro-Ophtalmologie Francophone (CNOF) 2023, Brussels, Belgium. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/102840
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Stölting, A., Vanden Bulcke, C., Jelinkova, D., Gaëtan Duchêne, Dricot, L., Macq, B., Maggi, P., & et al. (2023). Multishell diffusion-weighted MRI characterization of chronic active lesions in Multiple Sclerosis. ARSEP - MRI Workshop, Paris, France. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/224556
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