Intramedullary increased MR signal intensity and its relation to clinical features in cervical myelopathy.
BACKGROUND
Areas of intramedullary hyperintensity in patients with cervical spondylogenetic myelopathy (CSM) have been described and studied by several authors.


METHODS
In the present study, 100 patients were reappraised and divided into 2 groups according to whether or not MRI detected areas of hyperintensity on T2-weighted images.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis demonstrated that intramedullary hyperintensity is most frequently associated with severe impairment of deambulation, muscular hypotonus-hypotrophy and hypoesthesias of the upper limbs.


CONCLUSIONS
These radiological findings probably correspond to various types of lesions which, when irreversible, may influence postoperative neurological recovery.
Puzzilli
F
F
Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurosurgery II, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Mastronardi
L
L
Ruggeri
A
A
Lunardi
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009187:Myelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies