Cross-sectional transverse area and hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging in relation to the clinical picture in cervical spondylotic myelopathy
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Spine |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e318158cda0 |
| Field | Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences |
| Keywords | spondylotic myelopathy; compressive myelopathy; cross-sectional area; MR hyperintensities |
| Description | Introduction: The critical degree of spinal cord compression required to induce pathological changes in clinical practice remains unknown. The aim of this study is to ascertain the threshold of critical compression and its relation to MR-increased signal intensities in the spinal cord. Study group and methods: The study group consisted of 243 patients, mean age 53.9 +-9.8 years, with spondylotic cervical spine compression. The transverse cross-sectional area of the spinal cord at the level of maximum compression was measured, while MR hyperintensities were recorded and related to clinical status as quantified by mJOA score. Results: A statistically significant difference was shown between patients with a spinal cord sectional area of under 50 mm2 and a group of patients with a spinal cord sectional area of over 60 mm2 . A statistically significant difference in mJOA score was found between patients with smaller (under 50 mm2) or larger (over 70 mm2) transverse spinal cord areas within the group with hyperintensities (p = 0.001), whereas within the group of patients without hyperintensities, this difference was not observed (p = 0.63). Conclusions: The critical degree of spinal cord compression needed to induce clinically pathological changes is between 50 and 60 mm2. |
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