Quantitative Evaluation of the Diffusion Tensor Imaging Matrix Parameters and the Subsequent Correlation with the Clinical Assessment of Disease Severity in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
- Author:
Neha NISCHAL
1
;
Shalini TRIPATHI
;
Jatinder Pal SINGH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Clinical Study
- From:Asian Spine Journal 2021;15(6):808-816
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Methods:DTI images were processed to produce FA and ADC values of the acquired axial slices with the regions of interest placed within the stenotic and non-stenotic segments. The final quantitative radiological derivations were matched with the clinical scoring system.
Results:Total 52 people (24 men and 28 women), mean age 53.16 years with different symptoms of myelopathy, graded as mild (n=11), moderate (n=25), and severe (n=16) as per the mJOA scoring system, underwent MRI of the cervical spine with DTI. In the most stenotic segments, the mean FA value was significantly lower (0.5009±0.087 vs. 0.655.7±0.104, p<0.001), and the mean ADC value was significantly higher (1.196.5±0.311 vs. 0.9370±0.284, p<0.001) than that in the non-stenotic segments. The overall sensitivity in identifying DTI metrics abnormalities was more with FA (87.5%) and ADC (75.0%) than with T2 weighted images (25%).
Conclusions:In addition to the routine MRI sequences, DTI metrics (FA value better than ADC) can detect myelopathy even in patients with a mild grade mJOA score before irreversible changes become apparent on routine T2 weighted imaging and thus enhance the clinical success of decompression surgery.
