title: Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
abstract: Principles of echo shifting with a train of observations was used to perform magnetic susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with bolus-tracking in 14 patients with spondylotic myelopathy to assess changes in perfusion parameters of the spinal cord before and after decompression surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The mean transit time (MTT), bolus arrival time (T0), and time to peak (TTP) were obtained from regions of interest (ROIs) and assessed as the ratio between the spinal cord and the pons (MTT index = MTT(ROI)/MTT(pons), T0 index = T0(ROI)/T0(pons), TTP index = TTP(ROI)/TTP(pons)). The patients were divided into two groups according to percentage improvement on the Neurosurgical Cervical Spine Scale. The MTT index in patients with good recovery (> or =50%) was significantly reduced. The T0 index and TTP index showed no significant change in both groups. Reduction of MTT index may indicate improved perfusion of the spinal cord following surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. kazuyaue@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anno
authors.forename: Hiraku
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Atsuro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsukada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*