Articles from Spine

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Uchida, Kenzo ; Nakajima, Hideaki ; Yayama, Takafumi ; Kobayashi, Shigeru ; Shimada, Seiichiro et al
High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 18FDG-PET Findings of the Cervical Spinal Cord Before and After Decompressive Surgery in Patients With Compressive Myelopathy.
Status
Publish Ahead of Print, POST AUTHOR CORRECTIONS, 30 April 2009
Abstract
Study Design. Evaluation of cervical spinal cord (CSC) of patients with compressive myelopathy by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution (18F)fluoro-deoxyglucose (18FDG) positron emission tomography (PET).Objective. To determine changes in morphology, intramedullary signal intensity, and glucose metabolic rate in CSC after decompression, and to assess the utility of 18FDG-PET in evaluation of patients with cervical myelopathy.Summary of Background Data. The significance of CSC enlargement after decompression and signal intensity changes within the cord remain elusive. No data are available on metabolic activity of the compressed CSC. Only a few studies have examined correlation between high-resolution MRI and 18FDG-PET neuroimaging in cervical myelopathy.Methods. We studied 24 patients who underwent cervical decompressive surgery in terms of postoperative neurologic improvement and changes in MRI and 18FDG-PET. Neurologic status was assessed by the Japanese Orthopedic Association scoring system (17-point scale). Signal intensity change in the cord was qualitatively assessed on both T1- and T2-weighted images. The transverse area of the CSC on MRIs and glucose metabolic rate (standardized uptake value [SUV]) from 18FDG-PET were measured digitally.Results. Neurologic improvement correlated with preoperative CSC transverse area at maximal compression (P <>


Pahys, Joshua M. ; Samdani, Amer F. ; Betz, Randal R.
Intraspinal Anomalies in Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis: Prevalence and Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Spine. 34(12):E434-E438, May 20, 2009.
Abstract
Study Design. Retrospective case series of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with presumed infantile idiopathic scoliosis (IIS).Objective. To identify the prevalence of intraspinal anomalies in patients with presumed IIS at a single, large volume institution and further define the role for a screening MRI.Summary of Background Data. Idiopathic scoliosis in patients less than 10 years of age has been shown to carry a higher prevalence of concordant intraspinal anomalies, up to 20%, in juveniles, when compared to the adolescent age group. Few studies exist assessing the prevalence of intraspinal anomalies in the IIS patient population. Dobbs et al (2002) reported a 21.7% prevalence of neural axis abnormalities in 46 patients with presumed IIS across 3 combined spinal deformity clinics and recommended a screening MRI for all IIS patients with a curve >20[degrees].Methods. A retrospective review of the medical records of 54 patients at a single institution with a presumed diagnosis of IIS was performed. All patients satisfied the strict inclusion criteria of: curve >=20[degrees], age <36>20[degrees].(C) 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.