MRI观察成人无骨折、脱位型颈髓损伤

目的 分析成人无骨折、脱位颈椎外伤合并颈脊髓损伤的MR表现及其临床意义.方法 收集该病患者38例,入院时均行颈椎X线、CT及MR检查,其中男32例,女6例,年龄24～62岁,平均(42.0±0.4)岁.结果 本组病例X线、CT及MR检查均未见颈椎骨折及脱位.脊髓MRI信号改变包括脊髓信号无改变4例,髓内水肿30例,髓内出血9例,脊髓软化或囊性变4例以及增强后有强化13例.其他MRI表现包括颈椎后纵韧带骨化或颈椎间盘退变或损伤后突出等,为脊髓受压迫的原因.结论 MRI可为无骨折、脱位型颈脊髓损伤患者的诊断与正确治疗提供依据.MRI无信号改变或仅有水肿表现者预后较好,髓内出血或者异常强化者预后较差.     

强直性脊柱炎脊柱骨折的影像学表现

目的 探讨强直性脊柱炎(AS)脊柱骨折的多种影像学特征和影像诊断的价值.方法 回顾性分析20例AS合并脊柱骨折患者的影像学和临床资料.结果 损伤节段位于颈椎5例(25.00%),胸腰椎15例(75.00%),其中屈曲型损伤11例(55.00%),屈曲过伸型损伤9例(45.00%),前中后三柱同时损伤14例(70.00%),伴脊髓损伤8例(40.00%).X线平片共发现脊柱损伤征象43个,多层螺旋CT(MSCT)发现93个,MRI发现102个.结论 AS脊柱骨折常表现为累及三柱的贯通性骨折,MRI和MSCT是早期诊断的重要手段,MRI显示脊髓损伤和后柱损伤有明显优势,是评估AS合并脊柱骨折的首选影像学检查方法.     

广州管圆线虫病患者头颈部MR检查

目的 分析广州管圆线虫感染人体后有症状患者的头颈部MRI表现.方法 对74例有症状患者进行MRI和CT检查.MRI检查包括常规T1WI、T2WI、T2-FLAIR序列以及静脉注射钆对比剂后T1WI增强扫描.脑部CT检查均为平扫, 分析CT和MRI所见.对影像表现异常的患者,MR 随访1~3次.结果 33例患者MRI表现异常,包括单纯软脑膜异常强化17例,单纯脑实质异常信号3例,单纯脊髓异常信号1例,脑实质与软脑膜同时受累11例,脊髓与软脊膜同时受累1例.脑实质与脊髓内病变多表现为长T1、长T2信号,灶性分布;T1WI增强扫描时病灶多呈结节状强化.5例脑实质和脊髓的长T1、长T2异常信号无强化表现.结论 头颈部MRI检查有助于了解中枢神经系统广州管圆线虫病的病变程度,但绝大多数MRI所见缺乏特征性.     

创伤后脊髓空洞症的MRI表现及诊断标准的探讨

目的：分析创伤后脊髓空洞症的MRI表现及其形成机制，并探讨了诊断标准。方法：10例脊髓创伤后2．11年的发生脊髓空洞症病例，平均年龄41岁。临床资料和MRI资料齐全。用Frankel脊髓功能分级法记录临床表现．MRI重点观察脊髓及其空洞的形态和信号特征。结果：10例创伤后脊髓空洞症患累及脊髓颈段2例，脑干与脊髓颈段交界4例，脑干2例，圆锥2例，空洞始于脊髓受压明显处，延及长度2到13个脊髓节段不等，空洞均位于脊髓中央：T1加权像上6例表现为串珠样边缘，其内呈脑脊液样低信号；T2加权像上空洞段脊髓增粗或萎缩，呈均匀或不均匀高信号，空洞周边脊髓呈片状高信号。结论：MRI能反映创伤后脊髓空洞症的特点及其形成的可能机制，其影像学变化特征可列入诊断标准。创伤后脊髓空洞症的形成与脊髓持续受压有一定关系，而与临床症状关系不大，     

Dynamic weight-bearing cervical magnetic resonance imaging: technical review and preliminary results

BACKGROUND: Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of complex cervical spine disorders may underestimate the magnitude of structural disease because imaging is performed in a nondynamic non-weight-bearing manner. Myelography provides additional information but requires an invasive procedure. METHODS: This was a prospective review of the first 20 upright weight-bearing cervical MRI procedures with patients in the flexed, neutral, and extended positions conducted in an open-configuration MRI unit. RESULTS: This technique clearly illustrated the changes in spinal cord compression, angulation, and spinal column alignment that occur during physiologic movements with corresponding changes in midsagittal spinal canal diameter (P < 0.05). Image quality was excellent or good in 90% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic weight-bearing MRI provides an innovative method for imaging complex cervical spine disorders. This technique is noninvasive and has adequate image quality that may make it a good alternative to cervical myelography.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine. Normal anatomy.

Standard anatomy of the spine may be found in anatomy and radiology textbooks. However, there are aspects of spinal anatomy that are of particular importance to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The structure and orientation of the facet joints and their relationship to the neural foramina receive relatively little attention in standard anatomic works, but they are of great importance in evaluating nerve root compression syndromes. Similarly, the relationships between the cross-sectional diameters of the spinal canal, the subarachnoid space, and the spinal cord assume a great deal of significance when evaluating patients with signs or symptoms of spinal stenosis. Changes in the configurations and composition of the spinal cord will become increasingly important to the radiologists as it becomes possible to identify and distinguish spinal cord grey and white matter. Degenerative syndromes of the spinal cord may be more thoroughly evaluated once MRI permits identification of the specific regions or structures of the cord in which the tissue loss has been most severe.     

The diagnostic impact of magnetic resonance imaging on the evaluation of suspected spinal cord disease.

The data from 262 patients studied consecutively for suspected spinal cord disease were analysed to determine the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in this clinical setting. Damage to the spinal cord was detected in a total of 188 (72%) patients and was caused by myelocompression in two thirds and by intramedullary lesions in one third of the patients. Misleading sensory levels 5 to 12 segments below the actual lesion site were seen in 26% of patients with both extra- and intramedullary types of abnormality. A negative spinal MRI implied predominantly demyelinating or inflammatory origin of the clinical symptomatology, as was indicated by additional MRI studies of the brain and CSF findings. It is concluded that MRI is the procedure of choice for assessing patients with medullary symptoms. Irrespective of localizing neurologic findings the evaluation of the entire spine and even of the brain may be necessary to obtain maximum diagnostic information.     

Cervical Spine Injuries in Children, Part II: Management and Special Considerations

Background: The diagnosis and management of cervical spine injury is more complex in children than in adults. Objectives: Part I of this series stressed the importance of tailoring the evaluation of cervical spine injuries based on age, mechanism of injury, and physical examination findings. Part II will discuss the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as the management of pediatric cervical spine injuries in the emergency department. Discussion: Children have several common variations in their anatomy, such as pseudosubluxation of C2–C3, widening of the atlantodens interval, and ossification centers, that can appear concerning on imaging but are normal. Physicians should be alert for signs or symptoms of atlantorotary subluxation and spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality when treating children with spinal cord injury, as these conditions have significant morbidity. MRI can identify injuries to the spinal cord that are not apparent with other modalities, and should be used when a child presents with a neurologic deficit but normal X-ray study or CT scan. Conclusion: With knowledge of these variations in pediatric anatomy, emergency physicians can appropriately identify injuries to the cervical spine and determine when further imaging is needed.     

Advanced diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging techniques of the human spinal cord

ABSTRACT: Unlike those of the brain, advances in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the human spinal cord have been challenged by the more complicated and inhomogeneous anatomy of the spine, the differences in magnetic susceptibility between adjacent air and fluid-filled structures and the surrounding soft tissues, and the inherent limitations of the initially used echo-planar imaging techniques used to image the spine. Interval advances in DWI techniques for imaging the human spinal cord, with the specific aims of improving the diagnostic quality of the images, and the simultaneous reduction in unwanted artifacts have resulted in higher-quality images that are now able to more accurately portray the complicated underlying anatomy and depict pathologic abnormality with improved sensitivity and specificity. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has benefited from the advances in DWI techniques, as DWI images form the foundation for all tractography and DTI. This review provides a synopsis of the many recent advances in DWI of the human spinal cord, as well as some of the more common clinical uses for these techniques, including DTI and tractography.     

MRI of the spine and spinal cord: imaging techniques, normal anatomy, artifacts, and pitfalls

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used to evaluate the spine and spinal cord. OBJECTIVE: In this article, MRI of the spine is discussed in terms of normal anatomy, standard and advanced imaging techniques, general indications, limitations, and potential for the future. DISCUSSION: Although MRI does not provide the high bony detail possible with computed tomography, the appropriate combination of the sequences takes advantage of the different tissue characteristics to discriminate the various bony-and soft-tissue structures of the spine. CONCLUSION: MRI enables the imaging specialist to evaluate a large anatomic region in multiple planes and can better examine the spinal cord.     

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging enhances detection of spinal cord anomalies in patients with sonographically detected bony anomalies of the spine.

OBJECTIVE: Although fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being increasingly used to evaluate sonographically suspected abnormalities, its utility in the evaluation of the spinal canal is not well studied. Because it is not susceptible to the limitations of fetal position, oligohydramnios, and shadowing from bony structures, we hypothesize that fetal MRI is better suited to assess the contents of the spinal canal compared with prenatal sonography. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether fetal MRI could detect spinal abnormalities in cases in which they had not been originally suspected on prenatal sonography. METHODS: Fetal spine MR images were retrospectively reviewed over a 42-month period. Corresponding sonographic images were then rereviewed to determine whether there were findings in retrospect that might have suggested the cord abnormalities. Cases of myelomeningocele were counted as a spinal cord abnormality only if fetal MRI showed a cord anomaly other than the myelomeningocele. RESULTS: Of 33 cases referred for bony anomalies of the spine, fetal MRI showed additional abnormalities involving the spinal cord in 3 patients. These included diastematomyelia in 2 cases and segmental spinal dysgenesis in the third case. One case of diastematomyelia occurred in association with a lumbosacral myelomeningocele. The spinal cord anomalies were not visible on any of the prenatal sonograms, even in retrospect. CONCLUSIONS: Additional spinal cord anomalies were detected in 10% of cases reviewed. Fetal MRI can be useful in assessing the spinal cord in fetuses with bony spinal anomalies. Our findings suggest that fetuses with sonographically diagnosed bony abnormalities of the spine may benefit from further evaluation with fetal MRI.     

Syringomyelia associated with cervical spondylosis: A rare condition

Spinal spondylosis is an extremely common condition that has only rarely been described as a cause of syringomyelia. We describe a case of syringomyelia associated with cervical spondylosis admitted at our division and treated by our institute. It is the case of a 66-year-old woman. At our observation she was affected by moderate-severe spastic tetraparesis. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an hyperintense signal within spinal cord from C3 to T1 with a more sharply defined process in the inferior cervical spinal cord. At the same level bulging discs, facets and ligamenta flava hypertrophy determined a compression towards subarachnoid space and spinal cord. Spinal cord compression was more evident in hyperextension rather than flexion. A 4-level laminectomy and subsequent posterior stabilization with intra-articular screws was executed. At 3-mo follow up there was a regression of tetraparesis but motor deficits of the lower limbs residuated. At the same follow up postoperative MRI was executed. It suggested enlargement of the syrinx. Perhaps hyperintensity within spinal cord appeared “bounded” from C3 to C7 with clearer margins. At the level of surgical decompression, subarachnoid space and spinal cord enlargement were also evident. A review of the literature was executed using PubMed database. The objective of the research was to find an etiopathological theory able to relate syringomyelia with cervical spondylosis. Only 6 articles have been found. At the origin of syringomyelia the mechanisms of compression and instability are proposed. Perhaps other studies assert the importance of subarachnoid space regard cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamic. We postulate that cervical spine instability may be the cause of multiple microtrauma towards spinal cord and consequently may damage spinal cord parenchyma generating myelomalacia and consequently syrinx. Otherwise the hemorrhage within spinal cord central canal can cause an obstruction of CSF outflow, finally generating the syrinx. On the other hand in cervical spondylosis the stenotic elements can affect subarachnoid space. These elements rubbing towards spinal cord during movements of the neck can generate arachnoiditis, subarachnoid hemorrhages and arachnoid adhesions. Analyzing the literature these “complications” of cervical spondylosis are described at the origin of syringomyelia. So surgical decompression, enlarging medullary canal prevents rubbings and contacts between the bone-ligament structures of the spine towards spinal cord and subarachnoid space therefore syringomyelia. Perhaps stabilization is also necessary to prevent instability of the cervical spine at the base of central cord syndrome or syringomyelia. Finally although patients affected by central cord syndrome are usually managed conservatively we advocate, also for them, surgical treatment in cases affected by advanced state of the symptoms and MRI.     

A case of spinal cord compression syndrome by a fibrotic mass presenting in a patient with an intrathecal pain management pump system.

A 45-year-old woman presented with increasing low back pain, progressive anesthesia in her lower extremities and difficulty ambulating. She had a history of chronic low back pain problems for which, 26 months earlier, she had an intrathecal infusion pump permanently placed for pain and spasm control. Urgent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine revealed a mass at the site of the tip of the intrathecal catheter with high grade spinal cord compression at the level of L-1. At surgical laminectomy the compressing lesion was found to be a reactive tissue fibroma. As more patients receive these devices the physician should consider cord compression syndrome in patients presenting with symptoms of increasing low back pain, anesthesia and progressive proprioceptive loss.     

不同磁共振成像序列在颈髓损伤中的应用比较

目的 比较常规MRI序列、梯度回波T2*加权成像(T2*WI)及磁敏感加权成像(susceptibility weighted imaging,SWI)在急性颈髓损伤(SCI)中的应用价值.方法 对16例有急性颈椎外伤病史的患者,均采用3T MRI (TrioTim,Siemens Medical Solution)行...     

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in older persons

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in older persons. The aging process results in degenerative changes in the cervical spine that, in advanced stages, can cause compression of the spinal cord. Symptoms often develop insidiously and are characterized by neck stiffness, arm pain, numbness in the hands, and weakness of the hands and legs. The differential diagnosis includes any condition that can result in myelopathy, such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and masses (such as metastatic tumors) that press on the spinal cord. The diagnosis is confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging that shows narrowing of the spinal canal caused by osteophytes, herniated discs and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Choice of treatment remains controversial, surgical procedures designed to decompress the spinal cord and, in some cases, stabilize the spine are successful in many patients.     

Palliative radiotherapy in the treatment of skeletal metastases.

Two-third of patients with metastatic cancer suffer from pain. Pain originating from skeletal metastases is the most common form of cancer pain. Bone pain, often exacerbated by pressure or movement, limits the patient's autonomy and social life. Pathological fracture and spinal cord compression are additional complications caused by bone metastases.Radiotherapy is effective in treating bone pain not adequately controlled by analgesics. Seventy percent of patients benefit from radiotherapy. Single and multifraction regimens are equally effective in relieving pain. Retreatment is needed somewhat more often following single fraction therapy. Most patients benefit from retreatment irrespectively of previous fractionation schedule. Hemibody irradiation and radioisotopes, e.g., strontium-89 and samarium-153 are used in treating scattered painful bone metastases.Radiotherapy is used for preventing pathological fracture by treating osteolytic lesions especially in the weight-bearing bones such as the spinal column and long bones.Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice in spinal cord compression, which is the most serious complication caused by bone secondaries.Radiotherapy provides efficient, well-tolerated and cost-effective palliative care.     

Radiological assessment of indications for surgical treatment of spinal metastases

Background. The purpose is to assess the risk of spinal cord compression in patients with spine metastases using radiological data.
Material and methods. We evaluate 103 patients with the thoraco-lumbar vertebral body metastases - 52 with neurological symptoms of spinal cord compression and 51 symptoms free. We measured the statistical relation between spinal cord compression, pathological fracture, angle deformity of the spine and metastasis location. We divide spine into 3 columns and named pediculum as the fourth. We used statistical multiple regression analysis.
Results. The risk of spinal cord compression is depended on the location of the metastasis in vertebral body (p < 0,01). We found spinal cord compression symptoms in 25 out of 31 patients in group with pediculum involvement and in 27 out of 72 in group with other locations. It was highly statistically important (p < 0.001). In 45 out of 68 patients with vertebral fractures we found spinal cord compression symptoms (p < 0.01). We did not found statistical correlation between angle deformity and compression symptoms.
Conclusions. The risk of spinal cord compression is higher if the metastases are localised in thoraco-lumbar part of spine and if the pediculum is involved. The pathological fracture increases the risk of the compression, too.     

Inflammation, infection, cavitary disorders, and ischemia.

Demyclinating lesions of the spinal cord, including multiple sclerosis as well as other less common diseases, probably represent the etiology of a substantial proportion of all idiopathic myelopathies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has made major advances in the diagnosis and characterization of demyclinating disease. Infections of the spine may have severe consequences and, if detected early, are usually treatable processes. Osteomyelitis and epidural abscesses have characteristic imaging findings. Poor outcomes are more often due to delays in clinical presentation or the debilitated condition of the patients than to limitations in the accuracy of MRI diagnosis. Cavitary lesions of the spinal cord were among the first applications in which MRI proved its superiority to previously available techniques. Accurate diagnosis of these lesions involves detecting characteristics findings and relating these observations to the clinical history. Spinal cord infarction is relatively rare due to the extensively collateralized blood supply to the spinal canal. However, aortic aneurysms and the surgery for these lesions places the blood supply of the distal spinal cord and conus at risk. The syndrome of postoperative spinal cord infarction has characteristic clinical findings. However, MRI may contribute to distinguishing transient ischemia from true infarction and to predicting the severity of the final deficit.     

Neoplastic vs. traumatic spinal cord injury: an inpatient rehabilitation comparison

OBJECTIVE: To compare demographics, injury characteristics, and functional outcomes of patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression with those with traumatic spinal cord injuries. DESIGN: A prospective 5-yr comparison was undertaken comparing 34 patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression with 159 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. RESULTS: Patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression were significantly older, more often female, and unemployed than patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. Neoplastic spinal cord compression presented more often with paraplegia involving the thoracic spine, and injuries were more often incomplete compared with traumatic spinal cord injury. Patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression had a significantly shorter rehabilitation length of stay compared with those with traumatic spinal cord injury. The neoplastic group had significantly lower FIM change scores. Both groups had similar FIM efficiencies and discharge to home rates. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression have different demographic and injury characteristics but can achieve comparable rates of functional gains as their traumatic spinal cord injury counterparts. Although patients with traumatic injuries achieve greater functional improvement, patients with neoplasms have a shorter rehabilitation length of stay and comparable FIM efficiencies and home discharge rates.     

Characterization of engineered tissue construct mechanical function by magnetic resonance imaging

Non‐invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technology that enables the characterization of multiple physical phenomena in living and engineered tissues. The mechanical function of engineered tissues is a primary endpoint for the successful regeneration of many biological tissues, such as articular cartilage, spine and heart. Here we demonstrate the application of MRI to characterize the mechanical function of engineered tissue. Phase contrast‐based methods were demonstrated to characterize detailed deformation fields throughout the interior of native and engineered tissue, using an articular cartilage defect model as a study system. MRI techniques revealed that strain fields varied non‐uniformly, depending on spatial position. Strains were highest in the tissue constructs compared to surrounding native cartilage. Tissue surface geometry corresponded to strain fields observed within the tissue interior near the surface. Strain fields were further evaluated with respect to the spatial variation in the concentration of glycosaminoglycans ([GAG]), critical proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix of cartilage, as determined by gadolinium‐enhanced imaging. [GAG] also varied non‐uniformly, depending on spatial position and was lowest in the tissue constructs compared to the surrounding cartilage. The use of multiple MRI techniques to assess tissue mechanical function provides complementary data and suggests that deformation is related to tissue geometry, underlying extracellular matrix constituents and the lack of tissue integration in the model system studied. Specialized and advanced MRI phase contrast‐based methods are valuable for the detailed characterization and evaluation of mechanical function of tissue‐engineered constructs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.