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Clinical Neuroradiology
Published in: Clinical Neuroradiology 1/2017

01-03-2017 | Original Research

Tract-Specific Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Before and After Decompressive Spinal Surgery: Preliminary Results

Authors: K. Y. Wang, BS, O. Idowu, MD, C. B. Thompson, MS, MBA, G. Orman, MD, C. Myers, MD, L. H. Riley III, MD, J. A. Carrino, MD, MPH, A. Flammang, MBA, W. Gilson, PhD, C. L. Sadowsky, MD, I. Izbudak, MD

Published in: Clinical Neuroradiology | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of the cervical spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) were compared to those measured in healthy volunteers, using tract-specific region of interests (ROIs) across all cervical intervertebral disc levels.

Methods

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cervical spinal cord was performed in four patients with CSM and in five healthy volunteers on a 3-T MR scanner. Region-specific fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were calculated on axial imaging with ROI placement in the anterior, lateral, and posterior regions of the spinal cord. FA and MD were also calculated on sagittal acquisitions. Nonparametric statistical tests were used to compare controls and patients before and after surgery.

Results

FA values were significantly lower (p = 0.050) and MD values were significantly higher (p = 0.014) in CSM patients measured at level of maximal compression before surgery than in healthy controls in lateral and posterior ROIs, respectively. In posterior ROIs, MD values were significantly higher in patients before surgery compared to controls at all levels except C7-T1.

Conclusion

Patients with CSM may demonstrate region-specific changes in DTI metrics when compared to healthy controls. Changes in DTI metrics may also occur at levels remote from site of compression.
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Metadata
Title
Tract-Specific Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Before and After Decompressive Spinal Surgery: Preliminary Results
Authors
K. Y. Wang, BS
O. Idowu, MD
C. B. Thompson, MS, MBA
G. Orman, MD
C. Myers, MD
L. H. Riley III, MD
J. A. Carrino, MD, MPH
A. Flammang, MBA
W. Gilson, PhD
C. L. Sadowsky, MD
I. Izbudak, MD
Publication date
01-03-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Clinical Neuroradiology / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1869-1439
Electronic ISSN: 1869-1447
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-015-0418-7

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