The Spinal Cord MRI Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Objective To discuss the value of spinal cord MRI in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.Materials and Methods 80 patients with early stage MS were examined by MRI.The image appearances of lesions in brain and spinal cord were analyzed,and the correlations between the prevalence of spinal cord abnormalities and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis were also analyzed.Results(1)Among 80 cases,abnormal spinal cord MR appearance were found in 65 cases(81.25%),including cervical spinal cord in 18 cases(27.69%),thoracic cord in 13 cases(20.0%),lumber and sacral cord in 5 cases(7.69%),both cervical and thoracic cord in 29 cases(44.62 %).(2)Focal spinal cord lesions were found in 37 cases(46.25%),diffuse spinal cord abnormalities in 11 cases(13.75%),focal and diffuse spinal cord abnormalities in 17 cases(21.25%).(3)If spinal cord lesions were not considered,53 cases were diagnosed for multiple sclerosis,the sensitivity was 66.25%,if a focal spinal cord lesion was substituted for one brain lesion,68 cases can be diagnosed,the sensitivity was 85 %,which had significantly difference.Conclusion MRI can provide more evidences of multiple sclerosis dissemination in space,it also improves the sensitivity of the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.