title: The possible meaning of fractional anisotropy measurement of the cervical spinal cord in correct diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is based on clinical criteria and electrophysiological tests (electromyography, and transcranial magnetic stimulation). In the search for ALS biomarkers, the role of imaging procedures is currently emphasized, especially modern MR techniques. MR procedures were performed on 15 ALS patients and a sex- and age-matched control group. The MR examinations were performed with a 1.5-T MR unit, and the protocol consisted of sagittal T1-weighed images, sagittal and axial T2-weighed images, and sagittal T2-weighed FAT SAT images followed by an axial diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) sequence of the cervical spinal cord. FA values in individual segments of the cervical spinal cord were decreased in the ALS group in comparison with the control group. After comparing FA values for anterior, posterior, and lateral corticospinal columns, the greatest difference was observed between the C2 and C5 segments. Spinal cord assessment with the use of FA measurements allows for confirmation of the motor pathways lesion in ALS patients. The method, together with clinical criteria, could be helpful in ALS diagnosis, assessment of clinical course, or even the effects of new drugs. The results also confirmed the theory of the generalized character of ALS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Budrewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of General Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szewczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of General Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bladowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Podemski
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koziorowska-Gawron
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ejma
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Słotwiński
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland. magda.koszewicz@onet.pl.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koszewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016880:Anisotropy; D066193:Cervical Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Cervical spinal cord; Diffusion tensor imaging; Fractional anisotropy; Motor pathway; Neuroimaging