Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42809445›Full record

SynthesisNeurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation2026

Evaluating the Clinical Utility of TSPO-PET in MS and the Influence of Methodological Heterogeneity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Arian Madani Neishaboori, Mansi Agarwal, Ally Kalinsky, Justin P Lofaso, Gayatri Rampilla, Elizabeth A Kras, Sydney C Nagy, John G Cooper, Shenjian Ai, Claire K Zhang and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Arian Madani NeishabooriDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.ORCID 0000-0002-1920-9299
Mansi AgarwalInstitute for Informatics, Data Science, and Biostatistics, Washington University in St. Louis, MO.
Ally KalinskyDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Justin P LofasoDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Gayatri RampillaDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Elizabeth A KrasDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.ORCID 0000-0002-0582-4397
Sydney C NagyDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
John G CooperDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Shenjian AiDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Claire K ZhangDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.ORCID 0009-0001-0207-4615
Karl FriedrichsenDepartment of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.ORCID 0000-0002-9233-1418
Matthew BrierDepartment of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.ORCID 0000-0001-5987-8705
Aisling M ChaneyDepartment of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesPET imaging targeting the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is a widely used method to detect neuroinflammation

methodsA systematic search of Scopus, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted through September 10, 2025. Original TSPO-PET studies in PwMS were included. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) in TSPO-PET signal between PwMS and HC were pooled using random-effects models with cluster robust variances. Heterogeneity was assessed using

resultsForty-nine studies met inclusion criteria. Overall meta-analysis revealed significantly increased TSPO-PET signal in PwMS vs HC (SMD = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.27-0.61, DISCUSSION: TSPO-PET effectively distinguishes PwMS from HC and differentiates MS subtypes. However, radiotracer, quantification method, image analysis method, reference tissue, and region of interest significantly impact TSPO-PET outcomes and must be considered when designing and interpreting studies. Methodological standardization and improved reporting will be essential to enhance cross-study comparability and clinical interpretability.

Indexed as

Multiple SclerosisNeuroinflammatory DiseasesPositron-Emission TomographyReceptors, GABAHumansReceptors, GABATSPO protein, human

Identifiers

PMID42809445
PMCPMC13626720

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.