Spine MR imaging features of subacute combined degeneration patients.
OBJECTIVE
Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) is a potentially reversible neurological complication of a vitamin B12 deficiency; therefore, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are of great importance. The study was to evaluate the spine MR imaging features of SCD in a series of patients.


METHODS
Eight patients diagnosed with SCD from 2008 to 2010 comprised the study population. Spine MRIs were available for all eight patients, and three of them had follow-up MRIs after vitamin B12 treatment. Two radiologists evaluated the prevalence of signal intensity abnormality of spinal cord and analyzed the distribution and pattern of the signal change in consensus. And they also evaluated post-treatment MRI to find interval change.


RESULTS
Seven of eight patients showed abnormal hyperintensity within posterior aspect of spinal cord on T2-weighted images. The spinal cord abnormalities were seen at cervical spine in five patients (62.5 %) and at thoracic spine in the other two patients (25 %). For patients with cervical spinal cord abnormalities, axial T2-weighted images showed symmetric linear T2-hyperintensity as an "inverted V" at cervical spinal cord. For patients with thoracic spinal cord abnormalities, the abnormal signal intensity looked bilateral paired nodular T2-hyperintensity as "dumbbell" or "binoculars" at thoracic spinal cord. Follow-up MRIs after vitamin B12 treatment showed interval resolution of the areas of abnormal T2-hyperintensity in all.


CONCLUSIONS
Symmetric T2-hyperintensity within dorsal column of spinal cord is commonly seen in SCD patients with a linear pattern in the cervical spine and a nodular pattern in the thoracic spine.
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumidong, Bundag-Gu, Seong Nam, Gyeongi-Do, 463-707, Korea.
Hye Young
HY
Sun
Joon Woo
JW
Lee
Kyung Seok
KS
Park
Jae Yeon
JY
Wi
Heung Sik
HS
Kang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D066193:Cervical Cord / Q000002:abnormalities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D052879:Subacute Combined Degeneration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014805:Vitamin B 12