Evaluation of Cervical Spinal Cord Atrophy by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the brain and spinal cord (SC) that leads to demyelination and neurodegeneration. The relationship between cervical cord atrophy and disability in MS patients was demonstrated. Methods: The examinations were made with MR-Philips Medical System 1.5 tesla device in sagittal and axial planes with T1-WI and T2-WI. Images were evaluated by two experienced radiologists through the hospital image archive system. Results: In the sagittal plane measurement from the C3 vertebra level, the mean SC measurement of the patients in the MS group was 7.3 ± 0.7 millimeters (mm), while the mean of the control group was 8.3 ± 0.6. In the sagittal plane measurement from the C6 vertebra level, the mean SC measurement of the patients in the MS group was 6.9 ± 0.7 mm, while the mean of the control group was 7.8 ± 0.5. In the measurements made at all levels, SC thicknesses were lower in MS group patients compared to control group patients, and this decrease was statistically significant. Conclusion: In daily practice, cervical spinal cord measurements in MS patients can be easily and quickly performed with conventional MRI in two dimensions.

Keywords

• MRI
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Cervical Cord
• Spinal Cord

Multipl Sklerozlu Hastalarda Servikal Spinal Kord Atrofisinin Manyetik Rezonans Görüntüleme ile Değerlendirilmesi:

Öz

Amaç: Multipl skleroz (MS), beyin ve spinal kord (SK) demiyelinizasyon ve nörodejenerasyona yol açan inflamatuar bir hastalığıdır. MS hastalarında servikal kord atrofisi ile maluliyet arasındaki ilişki gösterilmiştir. Yöntemler: Muayeneler MR-Philips Medical System 1.5 tesla cihazı ile sagital ve aksiyel planda T1-WI ve T2-WI ile yapıldı. Görüntüler deneyimli iki radyolog tarafından hastane görüntü arşiv sistemi aracılığıyla değerlendirildi. Bulgular: C3 vertebra seviyesinden sagital düzlem ölçümünde MS grubundaki hastaların ortalama SK ölçümü 7,3 ± 0,7 milimetre (mm), kontrol grubunun ortalaması ise 8,3 ± 0,6 idi. C6 vertebra seviyesinden sagital düzlem ölçümünde MS grubundaki hastaların ortalama SK ölçümü 6.9 ± 0.7 mm, kontrol grubunun ortalaması 7.8 ± 0.5 idi. Tüm seviyelerde yapılan ölçümlerde MS grubu hastalarda kontrol grubuna göre SK kalınlıkları daha düşüktü ve bu azalma istatistiksel olarak anlamlıydı. Sonuç: Günlük pratikte MS hastalarında servikal omurilik ölçümleri iki boyutlu konvansiyonel MRG ile kolay ve hızlı bir şekilde yapılabilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• multiple skleroz
• mrg
• servikal kord

Kaynakça

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