The Effect of Leukoaraiosis on the Severity and Course of Delirium / 정신신체의학

OBJECTIVES: The significance of leukoaraiosis on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is uncertain, but it is often seen with vascular risk factors or in the context of cognitive impairment. We aimed to investigate the effect of leukoaraiosis on the severity and course of delirium. METHODS: Periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity on brain MRI were rated in 42 patients with delirium by semiquantative visual rating scale. Correlations between their grades and the scores of Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (K-DRS-R-98) were analyzed, and the interaction effects between the groups according to the levels of leukoaraiosis and two evaluation points were also analyzed. RESULTS: The grade of deep white matter hyperintensity in the occipital lobe was positively correlated with the scores on the total, severity items, cognitive items, and non-cognitive items of K-DRS-R-98. The cognitive items scores of K-DRS-R-98 in the low grade group of periventricular hyperintensity showed significantly steeper decrease than the high grade group. CONCLUSIONS: A difference in severity or recovery speed of delirium according to the level of leukoaraiosis may result from disruption in brain functional connectivity. Our results have a clinical implication in that the severity and course of delirium can be possibly predicted using the level of leukoaraiosis.

Interobserver and Test-Retest Reproducibility of T1ρ and T2 Measurements of Lumbar Intervertebral Discs by 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interobserver and test-retest reproducibility of T1ρ and T2 measurements of lumbar intervertebral discs using 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included a total of 51 volunteers (female, 26; male, 25; mean age, 54 ± 16.3 years) who underwent lumbar spine MRI with a 3.0 T scanner. Amongst these subjects, 40 underwent repeat T1ρ and T2 measurement acquisitions with identical image protocol. Two observers independently performed the region of interest measurements in the nuclei pulposi of the discs from L1–2 through L5–S1 levels. Statistical analysis was performed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with a two-way random model of absolute agreement. Comparison of the ICC values was done after acquisition of ICC values using Z test. Statistical significance was defined as p value < 0.05. RESULTS: The ICCs of interobserver reproducibility were 0.951 and 0.672 for T1ρ and T2 mapping, respectively. The ICCs of test-retest reproducibility (40 subjects) for T1ρ and T2 measurements were 0.922 and 0.617 for observer A and 0.914 and 0.628 for observer B, respectively. In the comparison of the aforementioned ICCs, ICCs of interobserver and test-retest reproducibility for T1ρ mapping were significantly higher than T2 mapping (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The interobserver and test-retest reproducibility of T1ρ mapping were significantly higher than those of T2 mapping for the quantitative assessment of nuclei pulposi of lumbar intervertebral discs.

Accuracy of Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Diagnosing Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in Patients Showing Spinal Cord Compression

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) in patients with deformed spinal cord but otherwise unremarkable conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 patients who underwent MRI of the cervical spine including DTI using two-dimensional single-shot interleaved multi-section inner volume diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging and whose spinal cords were deformed but showed no signal changes on conventional MRI were the subjects of this study. Mean diffusivity (MD), longitudinal diffusivity (LD), radial diffusivity (RD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured at the most stenotic level. The calculated performance of MD, FA, MD∩FA (considered positive when both the MD and FA results were positive), LD∩FA (considered positive when both the LD and FA results were positive), and RD∩FA (considered positive when both the RD and FA results were positive) in diagnosing CSM were compared with each other based on the estimated cut-off values of MD, LD, RD, and FA from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with the clinical diagnosis of CSM from medical records as the reference standard. RESULTS: The MD, LD, and RD cut-off values were 1.079 × 10⁻³, 1.719 × 10⁻³, and 0.749 × 10⁻³ mm²/sec, respectively, and that of FA was 0.475. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were: 100 (4/4), 44.8 (13/29), 20 (4/20), and 100 (13/13) for MD; 100 (4/4), 27.6 (8/29), 16 (4/25), and 100 (8/8) for FA; 100 (4/4), 58.6 (17/29), 25 (4/16), and 100 (17/17) for MD∩FA; 100 (4/4), 68.9 (20/29), 30.8 (4/13), and 100 (20/20) for LD∩FA; and 75 (3/4), 68.9 (20/29), 25 (3/12), and 95.2 (20/21) for RD∩FA in percentage value. Diagnostic performance comparisons revealed significant differences only in specificity between FA and MD∩FA (p = 0.003), FA and LD∩FA (p < 0.001), FA and RD∩FA (p < 0.001), MD and LD∩FA (p = 0.024) and MD and RD∩FA (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Fractional anisotropy combined with MD, RD, or LD is expected to be more useful than FA and MD for diagnosing CSM in patients who show deformed spinal cords without signal changes on MRI.

Comparison of Multi-Echo Dixon Methods with Volume Interpolated Breath-Hold Gradient Echo Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Fat-Signal Fraction Quantification of Paravertebral Muscle

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether multi-echo Dixon magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with simultaneous T2* estimation and correction yields more accurate fat-signal fraction (FF) measurement of the lumbar paravertebral muscles, in comparison with non-T2*-corrected two-echo Dixon or T2*-corrected three-echo Dixon, using the FF measurements from single-voxel MR spectroscopy as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with low back pain underwent MR imaging with a 1.5T scanner. FF mapping images automatically obtained using T2*-corrected Dixon technique with two (non-T2*-corrected), three, and six echoes, were compared with images from single-voxel MR spectroscopy at the paravertebral muscles on levels L4 through L5. FFs were measured directly by two radiologists, who independently drew the region of interest on the mapping images from the three sequences. RESULTS: A total of 117 spectroscopic measurements were performed either bilaterally (57 of 60 subjects) or unilaterally (3 of 60 subjects). The mean spectroscopic FF was 14.3 +/- 11.7% (range, 1.9-63.7%). Interobserver agreement was excellent between the two radiologists. Lin's concordance correlation between the spectroscopic findings and all the imaging-based FFs were statistically significant (p < 0.001). FFs obtained from the T2*-corrected six-echo Dixon sequences showed a significantly better concordance with the spectroscopic data, with its concordance correlation coefficient being 0.99 and 0.98 (p < 0.001), as compared with two- or three-echo methods. CONCLUSION: T2*-corrected six-echo Dixon sequence would be a better option than two- or three-echo methods for noninvasive quantification of lumbar muscle fat quantification.

The Added Value of Double Dose Gadolinium Enhanced 3D T2 Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery for Evaluating Small Brain Metastases

PURPOSE: Single dose gadolinium (Gd) enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) is helpful for visualizing superficial parenchymal metastases. However, the usefulness of FLAIR with a higher dose of Gd is uncertain. The aim of our study was two-folds: first, to prove that the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of small brain metastases is higher than large brain metastases on double-dose (DD) enhanced FLAIR and, second, to explore the added value of DD Gd enhanced FLAIR in relation to T1 GRE for evaluating small brain metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the first purpose, 50 pairs of small (2 mm5 mm) were included. The difference in the SNR and contrast ratio (CR) between small and large metastases on DD Gd-enhanced 3D T2 FLAIR was compared by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. For the second purpose, a total of 404 small metastases were included. The diagnostic sensitivities between 3D T1 gradient echo (GRE) alone and combined results of 3D T1 GRE and 3D T2 FLAIR were compared with McNemar test. RESULTS: The SNR and CR of small brain metastases were significantly higher than those of large brain metastases (p<0.001). In qualitative analysis, the diagnostic sensitivities for small brain metastases were significantly higher for 3D T1 GRE plus 3D T2 FLAIR than 3D T1 GRE alone regardless of scan time (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Small brain metastases showed higher signal intensity than large brain metastases on the DD Gd enhanced 3D T2 FLAIR images. DD Gd enhanced 3D T2 FLAIR imaging may have a complementary role to 3D T1 GRE for evaluating small brain metastases.

Intramedullary Spinal Lesions Involving the Conus Medullaris: MR Imaging Features for Differential Diagnosis

PURPOSE: Intramedullary spinal lesions in the conus medullaris (CM), including tumors and vascular lesion, are rarely reported. We reported various MR features of intramedullary spinal cord lesions involving the CM including ependymoma, hemangioblastomas, dermoid cyst, ventriculus terminalis and spinal AVF and tried to discuss them for differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients (male: female = 4:2, mean age = 44.3 year old) were enrolled from the clinical database of our institute from 2004 to 2010 and their radiological images and clinical symptoms were reviewed retrospectively. All patients had taken initial and postoperative MRI with contrast enhancement using gadopentate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA). These images were analyzed by tumor size, location, signal intensity relative to the spinal cord, vascular flow voids, syrinx or cyst, edema and enhancement pattern. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement was seen in all intramedullary masses. An eccentric enhancing nodule was noted in two hemangioblastomas and unusual peripheral rim enhancement with septation was seen in ventriculus terminalis. Patchy enhancement of the CM was observed in spinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Extensive cord edema adjacent to the intramedullary lesions was seen in four cases and syrinx was noted in three cases. Vascular signal voids were found in two hemangioblastomas and one spinal AVF. CONCLUSION: In evaluation of intramedullary spinal lesions in the CM, it is necessary to consider these unusual MR findings and discriminate various pathologies with prudence and caution.

High-Resolution Contrast-Enhanced 3D-Spoiled Gradient-Recalled Imaging for Evaluation of Intracranial Vertebral Artery and Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery in Lateral Medullary Infarction

PURPOSE: To determine whether high-resolution contrast-enhanced three dimensional imaging with spoiled gradient-recalled sequence (HR-CE 3D-SPGR) plays a meaningful role in the assessment of intracranial vertebral artery (ICVA) and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in lateral medullary infarction (LMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients confirmed with LMI were retrospectively enrolled with approval by the IRB of our institute, and 3T MRI with HR-CE 3D-SPGR and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) were performed. Two radiologists who were blinded to clinical information and other brain MR images including diffusion weighted image independently evaluated arterial lesions in ICVA and PICA. The demographic characteristics, the area of LMI and cerebellar involvement were analyzed and compared between patients with arterial lesion in ICVA only and patients with arterial lesions in both ICVA and PICA on HR-CE 3D-SPGR. RESULTS: Twenty-two of twenty-five LMI patients had arterial lesions in ICVA or PICA on HR-CE 3D SPGR. However twelve arterial lesions in PICA were not shown on CE-MRA. Concurrent cerebellar involvement appeared more in LMI patients with arterial lesion in ICVA and PICA than those with arterial lesion in ICVA alone (p = 0.069). CONCLUSION: HR-CE 3D-SPGR can help evaluate arterial lesions in ICVA and PICA for LMI patients.

Differentiation between Focal Malignant Marrow-Replacing Lesions and Benign Red Marrow Deposition of the Spine with T2*-Corrected Fat-Signal Fraction Map Using a Three-Echo Volume Interpolated Breath-Hold Gradient Echo Dixon Sequence

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of T2*-corrected fat-signal fraction (FF) map by using the three-echo volume interpolated breath-hold gradient echo (VIBE) Dixon sequence to differentiate between malignant marrow-replacing lesions and benign red marrow deposition of vertebrae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed 32 lesions from 32 patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging after being referred for assessment of a known or possible vertebral marrow abnormality. The lesions were divided into 21 malignant marrow-replacing lesions and 11 benign red marrow depositions. Three sequences for the parameter measurements were obtained by using a 1.5-T MR imaging scanner as follows: three-echo VIBE Dixon sequence for FF; conventional T1-weighted imaging for the lesion-disc ratio (LDR); pre- and post-gadolinium enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted images for the contrast-enhancement ratio (CER). A region of interest was drawn for each lesion for parameter measurements. The areas under the curve (AUC) of the parameters and their sensitivities and specificities at the most ideal cutoff values from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were obtained. AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were respectively compared between FF and CER. RESULTS: The AUCs of FF, LDR, and CER were 0.96, 0.80, and 0.72, respectively. In the comparison of diagnostic performance between the FF and CER, the FF showed a significantly larger AUC as compared to the CER (p = 0.030), although the difference of sensitivity (p = 0.157) and specificity (p = 0.157) were not significant. CONCLUSION: Fat-signal fraction measurement using T2*-corrected three-echo VIBE Dixon sequence is feasible and has a more accurate diagnostic performance, than the CER, in distinguishing benign red marrow deposition from malignant bone marrow-replacing lesions.

Radiologic Characteristics in a Case of Facial Nerve with Multisegment Involvement / 대한이비인후과학회지

A 47-year-old female patient presented with an acute onset of facial palsy and otitis media on the left side. Temporal bone CT scans revealed an irregularly shaped lesion in the middle ear cavity extending into the mastoid air cells. MRI images confirmed intra- and extra-temporal involvement of the facial nerve schwannoma. The correlation of distinct imaging findings of the facial nerve schwannoma along the course of the facial nerve and anatomical features of the temporal bone is discussed.

Ventriculus Terminalis in Adults: Unusual Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE: The ventriculus terminalis (VT) in adults is a rare pathology. We report various MR imaging features of the adult VT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients were included in this retrospective review.. All patients had undergone magnetic resonance (MR imaging with a surface coil that used two different 1.5T MR systems. All patients had undergone initial and follow-up MR imaging with contrast enhancement using gadopentate dimeglumine. Three patients underwent additional MR imaging using the echocardiogram-gated spatial modulation of magnetization (SPAMM) technique. If a shift in tagging band during the systolic phase was less than half of the band space, it was defined as a "non-pulsatile fluid". Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed these images, while clinical symptoms and outcomes were statistically analyzed between the treated and non-treated group. RESULTS: All cases presented an intramedullary cystic lesion in the conus medullaris and showed the same signal intensity as CSF. Three VTs had intracystic septation and cord edema, which were pathologically confirmed after surgery; two of these were associated with kyphotic deformity and spinal arteriovenous malformation. SPAMM-MRI of 3 patients demonstrated non-pulsatile fluid motion within the VT. In the treated group, clinical symptoms improved better than the non-treated group. CONCLUSION: The adult VT shows some unusual imaging features, including septation, cord edema, and coexistence of a spinal AVM, as well as the typical findings. Surgical maneuvers may be considered as a treatment option in adult VT with progressive neurological symptoms.

A Spinal Cord Astrocytoma and Its Concurrent Osteoblastic Metastases at the Time of the Initial Diagnosis: a Case Report and Literature Review

Bone metastasis from a spinal cord astrocytoma has been reported only twice in the English medical literature. It is generally known that bone metastasis is found after the initial diagnosis with/without intervening surgery rather than being found at the time of the diagnosis of astrocytoma. The purpose of this article is to report for the first time a case of concurrent bone metastasis from a spinal cord astrocytoma at the time of diagnosing the spinal cord astrocytoma.

Evaluation of the Cause of Internal Jugular Vein Obstruction on Head and Neck Contrast Enhanced 3D MR Angiography Using Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cause of internal jugular vein (IJV) obstruction on contrast enhanced 3D MR angiography (CE-MRA) using contrast enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 30 patients were enrolled, who underwent both head and neck CE-MRA and CE-CT from 2005 to 2008. We defined obstruction group which had IJV obstruction and control group which had no IJV obstruction on CE-MRA. The following parameters were measured from axial images of CE-CT: 1) diameter of IJV; 2) distance between the styloid process and ipsilateral lateral mass of the atlas; 3) maximum area of lateral mass of the atlas. Each parameter was compared between obstruction group and control group. RESULTS: The diameter of IJV and distance between the styloid process and lateral mass of the atlas at IJV obstruction side in obstruction group were 1.6 +/- 1.0 mm and 4.1 +/- 2.1 mm respectively, which resulted in statistical significance (p<0.01). The maximum area of lateral mass of the atlas at IJV obstruction side in obstruction group was 103.4 +/- 25.3 mm2 which is significantly larger than in control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We found that the cause of IJV obstruction on CE-MRA could be narrow space between the styloid process and the lateral mass of the atlas, which was related with asymmetric larger area of lateral mass of atlas.

Evaluation of the Cause of Internal Jugular Vein Obstruction on Head and Neck Contrast Enhanced 3D MR Angiography Using Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cause of internal jugular vein (IJV) obstruction on contrast enhanced 3D MR angiography (CE-MRA) using contrast enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 30 patients were enrolled, who underwent both head and neck CE-MRA and CE-CT from 2005 to 2008. We defined obstruction group which had IJV obstruction and control group which had no IJV obstruction on CE-MRA. The following parameters were measured from axial images of CE-CT: 1) diameter of IJV; 2) distance between the styloid process and ipsilateral lateral mass of the atlas; 3) maximum area of lateral mass of the atlas. Each parameter was compared between obstruction group and control group. RESULTS: The diameter of IJV and distance between the styloid process and lateral mass of the atlas at IJV obstruction side in obstruction group were 1.6 +/- 1.0 mm and 4.1 +/- 2.1 mm respectively, which resulted in statistical significance (p<0.01). The maximum area of lateral mass of the atlas at IJV obstruction side in obstruction group was 103.4 +/- 25.3 mm2 which is significantly larger than in control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We found that the cause of IJV obstruction on CE-MRA could be narrow space between the styloid process and the lateral mass of the atlas, which was related with asymmetric larger area of lateral mass of atlas.

Relationship between Upper Airway Computed Tomography in the Awake State and Polysomnograpy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate the anatomical features of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) using upper airway computed tomography (CT) in the awake state, and to analyze the correlation between anatomical features and severity of polysomnography (PSG) findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight patients presenting with snoring and sleep apnea were included, and upper airway CT in the awake state and PSG were performed in all patients. The average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and minimal arterial oxygen saturation (minSaO2) values were calculated. The axial and sagittal images from the level of the nasopharynx to that of the hypopharynx were obtained and measured. The correlations of the anatomical parameters with AHI and minSaO2 were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The significant parameters correlated with AHI were nasopharynx anterior-posterior (A-P) diameter and transverse diameter, soft palate transverse diameter, uvula length, tongue length, lingual transverse diameter, and hypopharynx A-P diameter & transverse di-ameter. The parameters correlated with minSaO2 were nasopharynx transverse diameter and lingual transverse diameter. Conclusions: Upper airway analysis using CT in awake OSAS patients provides anatomical parameters which correlate with the severity of OSAS. Therefore, upper airway CT in the awake state may be helpful in diagnosing OSAS.

Comparison of Non-invasive Imaging Studies in the Evaluation of Carotid Artery Stenosis and Occlusion: CT Angiography, Time-of-Flight MR Angiography and Contrast-Enhanced MR Angiography

PURPOSE: We compared non-invasive imaging studies of CTA, TOF-MRA and CE-MRA to evaluate detecting internal carotid artery stenosis and occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 20 patients with clinically suspected internal carotid artery stenosis and occlusion, or asymptomatic patient with more than 50% stenosis suspected on color Doppler ultrasonography for regular check-up. Prospectively, CTA, TOF-MRA and CE-MRA were performed, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of TOF-MRA and CE-MRA using CTA as a reference standard for detecting more than 50% stenosis were evaluated, and correlations of measured percent stenosis between 3 imaging studies were also evaluated. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between 3 imaging studies in measuring stenosis(p>0.05). Correlation coefficient was 0.932 between CTA and TOF-MRA, and 0.971 between CTA and CE-MRA. TOF-MRA had 83.3% sensitivity, 87.5% specificity, 71.4% positive predictive value, 93.3% negative predictive value and 86.4% accuracy for detecting more than 50% stenosis and occlusion. CE-MRA had 83.3% sensitivity, 93.8% specificity, 83.3% positive predictive value, 93.8% negative predictive value and 90.9% accuracy. CONCLUSION: TOF-MRA and CE-MRA provided high correlations in the evaluation of internal carotid artery stenosis and occlusion.

MRI Findings of a Cholesteatomatous Labyrinthine Fistula Showing Abnormal Inner Ear Enhancement / 대한평형의학회지

A 59-year-old male patient presented with sudden onset of vertigo and hearing loss. Labyrinthitis due to lateral semicircular canal fistula caused by cholesteamatous otitis media was suspected from temporal bone computed tomography (CT) and clinical symptoms. The patient was treated with canal wall down mastoidectomy with removal of the cholesteatoma and lateral semicircular canal occlusion. Preoperative gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of the inner ear revealed increased signal in the cochlea as well as vestibule. Correlation of the MRI findings and the inner ear involvement in labyrinthine fistula is discussed.

Isolated Aspergillosis of the Brain in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report

Brain aspergillosis has been increasing remarkably. They are known to occur commonly in immunocompromised individuals by hematogenous spread from other primary sites or by direct extension from adjacent structures to central nervous system. We report a rare case of a 29-year-old male without any known medical history, who had isolated brain lesion and the pathology from stereotactic biopsy confirmed cerebral aspergillosis.

Isolated Aspergillosis of the Brain in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report

Brain aspergillosis has been increasing remarkably. They are known to occur commonly in immunocompromised individuals by hematogenous spread from other primary sites or by direct extension from adjacent structures to central nervous system. We report a rare case of a 29-year-old male without any known medical history, who had isolated brain lesion and the pathology from stereotactic biopsy confirmed cerebral aspergillosis.

Staged Y-shaped Stent Assisted Coil Embolization in a Wide-Neck Basilar Tip Aneurysm: Case Report / 신경중재치료의학

A 67-year-old male presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage and was found to have a basilar artery (BA) tip aneurysm, which was incorporated to both posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs). First, he was treated with the single stent, which was deployed from P1 segment of the right PCA to BA, and coil embolization was done. Follow-up angiogram at 18 months revealed coil compaction of the aneurysm. Therefore, we accomplished the Y-configured dual stent assisted coil embolization. Follow-up angiogram at 30 months revealed no recanalization of aneurysm and patent blood flow of both PCAs. In conclusion, staged Y-shaped stents assisted coil embolization is an alternative treatment option in a wide-neck basilar tip aneurysm decreasing the extent of coil compaction of aneurysm and preserving an incorporated vessel.

Clinical Significance of MRI Findings During Medical Treatment for Tuberculous Spondylitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of non-surgically treated tuberculous spondylitis and to evaluate the relationships between these features and clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from ten patients (male:female=6:4, mean age=45 years) with clinically proven tuberculous spondylitis who were treated nonsurgically over three months were analyzed retrospectively from 2000 to 2007. MRI was performed at least three times for each patient, at baseline, every three or six months, and at the end of treatment. All images were analyzed by two radiologists. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period for the MR examination was 10.1 months (range, 4-17 months). Six patients had clinically complete resolution of tuberculous spondylitis with medication treatment only. Four patients were treated with surgical management alongside medication. All ten patients were divided into two groups by clinical outcome; six patients with complete treatment and four patients with incomplete treatment. In the complete treatment group, follow-up MR findings showed a loss of subligamentous spread of abscesses, decreased size of abscesses, no interval changes in vertebral body heights, and fatty changes in spinal lesions. MR findings in the incomplete treatment group showed bone marrow edema extension to adjacent vertebra, extension of the abscesses, and decreased height of the vertebral bodies. CONCLUSION: During the nonsurgical management of tuberculous spondylitis, MR imaging may play a role in predicting patient response to antituberculous drug treatment.