title: A longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study of the cervical cord in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: This study was performed to evaluate the correlation between changes of cross-sectional cord area and disability in multiple sclerosis. Axial magnetic resonance images at the C-5 spinal level were obtained at entry and 12 months later for 29 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis. The degree of disability was inversely correlated at entry and follow-up with the cross-sectional area and the transverse diameter of the spinal cord. In addition, changes in disability correlated inversely with changes in cross-sectional area (r = -0.4, p = 0.04). These findings suggest that cross-sectional cord area at C-5 might be a useful marker of disease evolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute Ospedale, San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rovaris
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors