MRI of the abnormal cervical spinal cord using 2D spoiled gradient echo multiecho sequence (MEDIC) with magnetization transfer saturation pulse. A T2* weighted feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the potential of heavily T2* weighted 2D spoiled gradient echo multiecho sequence MEDIC (multi echo data image combination) with magnetization transfer saturation pulse (MTS) for detecting abnormality of the cervical spinal cord.


METHODS
11 patients, 5 women and 6 men aged from 14 to 79 years (mean age 51.18 years), with traumatic, hemolytic-hemorrhagic or neoplastic diseases of the cervical spinal cord were examined with MRI. In cases with suspected myelopathy, the feasibility of the 2D spoiled gradient echo multiecho sequence MEDIC with MTS was evaluated in comparison with the results of spin echo T1W, spin echo T2W, multi echo (TSE in our case) and spin-echo multi-echo technique with magnetization preparation (turbo inversion recovery--TIR--in our case) sequences.


RESULTS
Distortion of the "H" sign was found in all but one case. Hemorrhage was best shown by MEDIC, massive edema was very well visible using MEDIC, TIR and TSE T2W, whereas mild edema was visible with MEDIC only.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary experience in 11 patients shows that MEDIC can be used for the diagnosis of cervical spinal cord pathology.
Held
P
P
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany.
Dorenbeck
U
U
Seitz
J
J
Fründ
R
R
Albrich
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*