title: Dynamic change in magnetic resonance imaging of patients with neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spinal cord lesions in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and the correlation between segmental length of spinal cord lesions and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with confirmed NMO were examined from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China. The information collected included their treatment, MRI, laboratory tests, and EDSS scores at different stages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases exhibited spinal cord lesions, with 23 (92%) having longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (extending ≥3 vertebral segments). There was a positive correlation between segmental length of spinal cord lesions and EDSS scores: during the acute phase, r = 0.430 (P = 0.032); during remission, r = 0.605 (P = 0.002). Enlarged spinal cord lesions and swelling were found in 18 cases (72%) during the acute phase, and 4 cases (16%, P = 0.000) after 6 months of treatment. Lesion enhancements were found in 17 cases (68%) during the acute phase, and 8 cases (32%, P = 0.023) after 6 months of treatment. Leptomeningeal enhancement was found in three cases during the acute phase, which disappeared after treatment. Atrophy of spinal cord lesions occurred in two cases. Change in lesions was statistically significant (P = 0.006) after 12 months of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive correlation was found between segmental length of spinal cord lesions and EDSS scores, which was more significant during remission. After 6 months of regular treatment, restorative changes compared with the acute phase were found by MRI.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and The Ministry of Education of China , Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.|b 2 Department of Neurology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Yongxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: a 1 Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and The Ministry of Education of China , Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.|b 2 Department of Neurology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Fulan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: a 1 Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and The Ministry of Education of China , Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.|c 3 Department of Emergency , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Shao-peng
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: a 1 Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and The Ministry of Education of China , Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.|b 2 Department of Neurology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Youming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: a 1 Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and The Ministry of Education of China , Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.|b 2 Department of Neurology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: a 1 Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and The Ministry of Education of China , Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.|b 2 Department of Neurology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: a 1 Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and The Ministry of Education of China , Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.|b 2 Department of Neurology , The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Qingchun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000473:pathology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000473:pathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: EDSS; MRI; NMO; dynamic change