Characteristics and clinical significance of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging of cervical spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy

English Keywords:Cervical spondylotic myelopathy  Cervical spinal cord  Magnetic resonance imaging  Diffusion tensor imaging

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To observe the characteristics of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) of the cervical spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopahty(CSM), and to discuss the value of DTI for the chronic spinal cord injury. Methods: From February 2011 to February 2015, 20 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy were accepted and 42 age-matched healthy volunteers were included as a control group. Apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) and fractional aniostropy(FA) values of the cervical spinal cord from C2/3 to C6/7 in the control group and in the CSM group were measured respectively. ADC and FA values of different segments in volunteers were compared. ADC and FA values of the cervical spinal cord in the two groups were compared respectively. ADC and FA values of the cervical spinal cord were made correlations with mJOA scores in CSM patients respectively. Results: ADC value showed an ascending trend from C2/3 to C6/7, while FA value showed a descending trend. ADC and FA values of C2/3 were significantly different from those of C5/6 and C6/7 respectively(ADC: F=3.546, P=0.008; FA: F=13.82, P＜0.001). ADC value of the cervical spinal cord in the CSM group showed significant increase while FA value showed significant decrease compared with that of the control group respectively(P<0.001). ADC value of the cervical spinal cord showed no linear correlation with mJOA score(r=-0.287, P=0.220), while FA value showed a significant linear correlation with mJOA score(r=0.359, P=0.005). Conclusions: ADC value of the cervical spinal cord in CSM patients shows a significant increase compared with that in healthy volunteers, while FA value shows a significant decrease. FA value shows a significant linear correlation with mJOA score.