Relating MRI Changes to Pathological Outcomes after Ischemic Stroke of Spinal Cord: An Experiment in Canines

Objective: To investigate the rule of MRI changes and the related pathological mechanism. Methods: The model of spinal cord ischemia caused by cervical anterior spinal artery injury was established in canines. The pathology of corresponding segment of each cord was observed grossly and under light microscope. MRI outcome of spinal cord was observed dynamically post tischemia. Results: After cervical anterior spinal artery injury, the spinal cord underwent sequential phthological changes including hematomyelia, edema, axonal and motor neurons degeneration or necrosis, and demyelination. It was characteristic that the abnormal signal intensity of MRI on the cross section of the spinal cord was unilateral, and on the sagittal section in the anterior region of spinal cord. Conclusions: MRI can reveal abnormal signal intensity of spinal cord. These findings were related to edema and hematomyelia in this region. MRI could be clinically beneficial to diagnoze of spinal cord ischemia.