title: Correlation of postmortem 9.4 tesla magnetic resonance imaging and immunohistopathology of the human thoracic spinal cord 7 months after traumatic cervical spine injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To correlate high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with immunohistopathology in the injured human spinal cord.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmortem MRI scans at a field strength of 9.4 T, as well as standard histology and immunohistochemistry, were performed on an excised specimen of human high thoracic spinal cord, obtained 7 months after the initial trauma, several segments below a severe spinal cord lesion (C5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A precise correlation is described between MRI and immunohistochemistry of the long white matter tracts undergoing Wallerian degeneration and of an extension of the cervical lesion into the high thoracic cord.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI, the only imaging technique that currently provides useful information on the spinal cord parenchyma after trauma, is rapidly evolving. High-field scanners of up to 9.4 T are being clinically tested. The present postmortem investigation of an isolated spinal cord specimen demonstrates the precise correlation that can be achieved between imaging and pathology. In future investigations, this type of technique can lead to a more precise description of spinal cord injuries and their consequences in remote tissue. Translation into the clinical setting will improve diagnosis and follow-up of spinal cord injured patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scholtes
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adriaensens
authors.forename: Liesbet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Storme
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buss
authors.forename: Byron A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kakulas
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gelan
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beuls
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schoenen
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors