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Diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography in cervical compressive myelopathy: preliminary results

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Abstract

Objective

To assess diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters in cervical compressive myelopathy (CCM) patients compared to normal volunteers, to relate them with myelopathy severity, and to relate tractography patterns with postoperative neurologic improvement.

Subjects and methods

Twenty patients suffering from CCM were prospectively enrolled (M:F = 13:7, mean age, 49.6 years; range 22–67 years) from September 2009 to March 2010. Sensitivity encoding (SENSE) single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) was used for the sagittal DTI. Twenty sex- and age-matched normal volunteers underwent the same scanning procedure. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the spinal cord were compared between the patients and normal volunteers and were related to myelopathy severity based on Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores. Tractography patterns were related to myelopathy severity and postoperative improvement.

Results

There were significant differences between patients and normal volunteers in terms of FA (0.498 ± 0.114 vs. 0.604 ± 0.057; p = 0.001) and ADC (1.442 ± 0.389 vs. 1.169 ± 0.098; p = 0.001). DTI parameters and tractography patterns were not related to myelopathy severity. In ten patients in the neurologically worse group, postoperative neurologic improvement was seen in four of five patients with intact fiber tracts, but only one of five patients with interrupted fiber tracts exhibited neurologic improvement.

Conclusion

DTI parameters in CCM patients were significantly different from those in normal volunteers but were not significantly related to myelopathy severity. The patterns of tractography appear to correlate with postoperative neurologic improvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumidong, Bundag-Gu, Seong Nam, Gyeongi-do, 463–707, Korea

    Joon Woo Lee, Jae Hyoung Kim, Jong Bin Park, Guen Young Lee & Heung Sik Kang

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeongi-Do, 463–707, Korea

    Kun Woo Park & Jin S. Yeom

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  1. Joon Woo Lee
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  2. Jae Hyoung Kim
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  3. Jong Bin Park
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  4. Kun Woo Park
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  7. Heung Sik Kang
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Correspondence to Heung Sik Kang.

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Lee, J.W., Kim, J.H., Park, J.B. et al. Diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography in cervical compressive myelopathy: preliminary results. Skeletal Radiol 40, 1543–1551 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-011-1161-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-011-1161-z

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