Diagnostic value of MRI in cervical cord compression

Magnetic response images (MRI) of 61 patients with compressive lesion of cervical spinal cord were reviewed to evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI. There were 25 cervical sponfyloses, 26 herniated disks, 10 ossifications of the posterior longitudinal ligaments. Sixty cases of there patients had signs od cervical myelopathy. Shimadzu SMT 50 with a 0.5 tesla, super conducting magnet was used. Tow pulse sewuences, which were T_1 and T_2 weighted images, were necessary to diagnose the anatomical detail and degeneration of disks and spinal cord. Both sagittal section and axial section were also necessary to diagnose the degree and localozation of compression. In the diagnosis of compressive levels, the finding of MRI were almost consistent with the findings od myelogram. A high singnal instensity area within the cervical spinal cord on T_2 weight image was found in 24 cases among 61 cases (39%). There were no correlation between the high signal intensity area and the rate of postoperative improvement. The pathophysiologic basis of this high signal intensity area was oresumed to be edema or gliosis or myelomalacia secondary to a choronic compressive effect of the cervical spinal cord.