Diffusion tensor MR imaging of cervical spinal cord:cervical spondylosis-related changes

Objective:To investigate the capacity of diffusion tensor MR imaging in the spondylosis-related changes of the cervical spinal cord. Materials and Methods:Thirty-one patients with cervical spondylosis were examined with routine MRI and DTI on SIEMENS Sonata 1.5T MR scanner using single shot echo planar imaging (SE-EPI) sequences. The images of cervical spinal cord were obtained. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC),fractional anisotropy (FA) values were measured on a sagittal section according to whether there were high signal on T2-weighted images or not. Results:All 31 cervical spondylosis cases completed the examinations without obvious artifacts on the diffusion tensor images. The average ADC and FA values of high signal lesions on conventional T2-weighted images (9 cases) were 1183.44±121.96×10-6 mm2/s and 432.56±59.97×10-3 (P0.01,vs normal cervical spinal cord). The average ADC and FA values of normal signal on T2-weighted images (15 of 22 cases) were 1055.07±80.61×10-6 mm2/s and 501.87±41.09×10-3 (P0.01,vs normal cervical spinal cord),7 of 22 cases showed no signifi cant difference compared with normal cervical spinal cord. The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value of T2-weighted images and DTI were 29.0% and 67.7%,71.0% and 22.6%,27.3% and 72.7%,75.9% and 24.1%,respectively. Conclusion:Diffusion tensor imaging is a reliable tool in demonstrating the early spondylosis-related changes of the cervical spinal cord compared with conventional T2-weighted images. It can provide useful information for chronic injury and regeneration of the cervical spinal cord.