title: The cervical spinal cord in neuromyelitis optica patients: a comparative study with multiple sclerosis using diffusion tensor imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to evaluate "in vivo" the integrity of the normal-appearing spinal cord in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), using diffusion tensor MR imaging, comparing to controls and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 8 patients with NMO and 17 without any neurologic disorder. Also, 32 MS patients were selected. Fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD) and mean diffusivity (MD) were calculated within regions of interest at C2 and C7 levels in the four columns of the spinal cord.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At C2, the FA value was decreased in NMO patients compared to MS and controls in the anterior column. Also in this column, RD value showed increase in NMO compared to MS and to controls. The FA value of the posterior column was decreased in NMO in comparison to controls. At C7, AD value was higher in NMO than in MS in the right column. At the same column, MD values were increased in NMO compared to MS and to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is extensive NASC damage in NMO patients, including peripheral areas of the cervical spinal cord, affecting the white matter, mainly caused by demyelination. This suggests a new spinal cord lesion pattern in NMO in comparison to MS.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Medical Student, Rua Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, 255, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. fernandamiraldi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fernanda Miraldi Clemente
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Pessôa
authors.forename: Fernanda Cristina Rueda
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: João Victor Altamiro
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Soniza Vieira Alves
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: Romeu Côrtes
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: Emerson Leandro
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gasparetto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult