MRI Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in Spinal Cord

Objective To improve the clinical diagnosis of spinal multiple sclerosis (MS).Materials and Methods MRI findings in 14 cases with MS, including the location, extent and shape of the spinal lesions, as well as the signal and enhancement of the lesions, were analyzed.Results On MRI, spinal MS showed some characteristics. (1) The lesion mainly developed in cervical cord. (2) The average length of the lesion usually covered five vertebral bodies. (3) The diseased cord was swollen in acute stage. (4) The lesions were manifested as patches in shape with low or iso signal intensity on T 1WI and high signal intensity on T 2WI, showing patchy or marginal enhancement after intravenously administration of Gd DTPA. (5) After the patient was treated with standard hormonotherapy, the diseased cord returned normal with weakened, or without, enhancement.Conclusion MRI is helpful not only in the diagnosis of spinal MS, but also in the differentiation with other spinal lesions.