ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the correlations between increased spinal cord signal intensity on magnetic resonance images (MRI) and the clinical prognosis of compressive cervical myelopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent surgeries through the anterior approach. In all the patients, the diagnoses were established on the basis of both neurological examination and MRI findings that showed spinal cord compression. The patients were divided into two groups according to preoperative MRI, namely isointense MRI T1/T2 signal group and iso/hyperintense MRI T1/T2 group. The JOA scores of the patients were evaluated before and at 6 and 12 months after the operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients were followed up for 12 to 38 months after the operation (mean 21 months), and no statistically significant difference were found in the pre- and postoperative JOA scores between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The peoperative hyperintense signals on T2 weighted MRI does not correlate to the prognosis of patients with compressive cervical myelopathy, who may also have favorable clinical outcomes after the operation.</p>