Figure 3. Box plot shows relationship between appearance of white matter on intermediate-weighted MR images and state of myelination (ie, myelin density) in cervical spinal cord in control specimens and MS specimens. (MS specimens were categorized as showing high-signal-intensity lesions [HISIL], intermediate-signal-intensity lesions [IMSIL], and NAWM). The wide range of myelin density values in the MS specimens and extensive demyelination in NAWM were not clearly detected on conventional intermediate-weighted MR images. * = extreme value. Results of statistical analysis between subgroups are listed in Table 5.