Correlation between Cervical Spinal Cord Fractional Anisotropy Values and Severity of Compressive Cervical Discs Lesions
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- Category: Vol. 85, December 2017
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Correlation between Cervical Spinal Cord Fractional Anisotropy Values and Severity of Compressive Cervical Discs Lesions, DINA H. GAMAL EL-DIN, MOHSEN E. KHALIL, NASER M.F. EL-GHANDOUR and AYMAN A. EL-BASMY
Abstract
Background: Routine clinical Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is widely performed to evaluate morphological changes in cervical spondylosis, but there is only a weak correlation between MR imaging findings and clinical symptoms. In this study we aim to obtain microstructural parameters (Fractional Anisotropy: FA) of the cervical spinal cord in patients with suspected cervical compressive myelopathy (CSM) using tractography, and to compare DTI parameters with severity of compressive cervical discs lesions.
Methods: The study included 50 patients (22 males and 28 females); age range 24-80 years, patients presenting with neck pain and or brachialgia. MR technique was performed using a standard 1.5 Tesla unit (Intera and Achiva, Philips). A standard cervical coil was used. The sequences obtained were axial FFEW, sagittal TI and T2 WI and DifTusion Tensor.
Results: We compared and correlated the mean FA values of each disc lesion severity to the normal group. The results were significant.
Conclusion: Cervical cord FA values show statistically significant changes in correlation with severity of compressive discs lesions.
Key Words: Cervical Compressive Myelopathy (CSM) — Fractional Anisotropy (FA).