Anterior spinal artery stroke demonstrated by echo-planar DWI.
Diffusion-weighted MR (DWI) is becoming an established method for the investigation of cerebral ischemia. Its value in spinal ischemia has to be demonstrated. We report on a patient presenting with postoperative paraparesis who underwent emergency MRI of the spine with echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging which showed an area of hyperintensity corresponding to a decrease of diffusion as measured by the apparent diffusion coefficient. On follow-up imaging spinal stroke was confirmed. In conclusion, spinal echo-planar MR imaging can demonstrate ischemic changes despite strong echo-planar artifacts. It could become an important adjunct to the management of patients with suspected spinal ischemia.
Stepper
F
F
Department of Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
Lövblad
K O
KO
D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D004058:Diffusion; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*