Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) and Surgical Decision of Traumatic and Degenerative Cervical Spine Lesions

ABSTRACT

We undertook a retrospective analysis of 20 patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University, utilizing Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) to make diagnosis and surgical indication of traumatic and degenerative cervical spine lesions. All patients were taken T1 Weighted Lmage(T1WI), T2 Weighted Image(T2WI) and Gradient echo on 2.0 Telsa unit. Pre-and postoperative were obtained in 4 cases with degenerative lesion. All patients could be evaluated the extent and degree of soft tissue injury including intramedullary contusion or hemorrhage, acute or chronic disc herniation, osteophytes, cord compression, epidural/paravertebral hematoma, ligamentous avulsion, fractures and malalignment. High-signal-intensity(HSI) was observed on T2WI in 10 patients with myelopathy. HSI diminished postoperatively in the patients who improved clinically, and remained the same in one case whose conditions remained uncharged after decompression. Preliminary experience with Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) in the evaluation of traumatic and degenerative cervical spine lesions reveal many advantages over the computed tomoography, plain radiographs and myelography. Futhermore, HSI of the spinal cord produced by compressive lessions appears to be an important indicator for predicting prognosis.