Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Compressive Myelopathy in Rohilkhand Region, India

JOURNAL TITLE: International Journal of Advanced and Integrated Medical Sciences

Author
ISSN
DOI
10.5005/jp-journals-10050-10091
Volume
2
Issue
3
Publishing Year
2017
Pages
7
Article keywords

Abstract

Background and objective: Spinal cord compression is the most important cause of neuropathy and disability. Many spinal cord diseases are reversible if recognized early. They are definitely among the most critical of neurologic emergencies. Plain radiographs have a low sensitivity for identifying traumatic/neoplastic spinal lesions. The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is to distinguish the compressive from noncompressive causes of myelopathy, localize the spinal tumors as being extradural/intradural, and assess the integrity of spinal cord, intervertebral disks, and ligaments after acute spinal trauma. Mateirals and methods: It is a descriptive study with 90 cases carried out in the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging at Rohilkhand Medical College & Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. The patients with a suspected clinical history of compressive myelopathy were subjected to MRI scanning. Acquired images were evaluated based on severity of cord compression, location in the extradural/intradural, level of lesion (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar), signal intensities of the neoplasms, vertebral fracture with epidural hematoma, ligamentous injury, and cord edema/contusion. The patients were chosen for the study by a process of purposive sampling, and data were analyzed by descriptive analysis. Results: In our study of 90 cases of compressive myelopathy we found various different causes for compression. Among these are trauma (39), infectious causes (21), Metastasis (15), primary neoplasm (meningioma (06) + neurofibroma (09). Conclusion: The MRI is the definitive modality in assessing soft tissues of the spine and spinal cord abnormalities. In our study, with the help of MRI, we could successfully characterize the spinal cord after trauma, identify spinal tumors based on extradural/intradural locations, and assess the integrity of spinal cord, intervertebral disks, and ligaments. Thus, in the end, we can conclude that in cases of RTA and other causes, which lead to compressive myelopathy, MRI is the definitive and accurate answer to the clinical question.

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