J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2006 Mar;13(1):32-39. 10.4184/jkss.2006.13.1.32.

Treatment Outcome and Prognosis Regarding to MR Pattern and Signal Area in Spinal Cord Injury

• Lee KY
• Sohn SK
• Lee MJ
• Wang L

• KMID: 2040778
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2006.13.1.32

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: To determine the capability to predict the clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes of traumatic cervicothoracic cord injury patients based on MR images.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between the differences in MR patterns and signal areas according to Maravilla and Cohen's classification and the PACS system compared with the Frankel classification, in patients that demonstrated neurologic improvement within 1 year. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: MR is the first imaging modality that directly visualizes the extent of spinal cord derangement, and thus, it has the potential to provide an accurate diagnosis of an injury and to determine the prognosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
MR images were evaluated within 3 days of trauma in 36 spinal cord injury patients. The clinical follow-up period was more than 1 year. Quantitative analysis of spinal cord lesions was performed according to the PACS system.
RESULTS
According to Maravilla and Cohen's classification, 36 cases were classified as follows: 8 cases of type I, 10 cases of type II, 9 cases of type III and 9 cases of type IV. There was 1 case of type I, 8 cases of type II, 5 cases of type III, and no cases of type IV, who demonstrated neurologic improvements of more than 1 grade in the Frankel classification. An analysis of the signal areas according to the PACS system demonstrated no cases of areas greater than 100 mm2, 5 cases of areas between 50 to 100 mm2, and 9 cases of areas less than 50 mm2 who demonstrated neurologic improvement.
CONCLUSION
Classification according to the differences between MR imaging and MRI signal areas in patients with spinal cord injuries demonstrated the indicators of neurologic improvement; therefore, we MR imaging can be utilized as a prognostic factor in cases of spinal cord injuries.

Keyword

Spinal cord injury; MRI; PACS system

MeSH Terms

Classification
Diagnosis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Prognosis*
Spinal Cord Injuries*
Spinal Cord*
Treatment Outcome*

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Quantitative analysis of signal changes on MRI(PACS system). (SD: standard deviation, mean, area : mm2)

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  Fig. 2. MR signal area according to PACS system and Neurologic Recovery : Analysis of the signal area according to the PACS system, there were no case of area above 80mm2 who showed neurologic improvement.

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  Fig. 3. (Type II) MRI of 22-year-old male with C6 tear-drop fracture who become incomplete quadriplegia following incar-TA. Shows neurologic recovery(Frankel grade C to D).(A) T1 isointense (B) Central isosignal, peripheral high (C) Signal range : 62.81mm2

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  Fig. 4. (Type III) MRI of 50-year-old male with C5-6 fracture and left unilaterl facet joint dislocation who become incomplete quadriplegia following fall down accident. Shows neurologic recovery(Frankel grade B to D).(A) T1: isointense (B) T2: cetral high, peripheral high, C5 level Syringohydromyelia, intramedullary, C4 level (C) Signal range : 40.67mm2

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  Fig. 5. (Type IV) MRI of 48-year-old male with T11-12 fracture and dislocation who become complete paraplegia following outcar-TA. Not shows neurologic recovery(Frankel grade A to A).(A) T1: transection (B) T2: transection (C) Signal range : >100mm2

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