No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Ossification, Heterotopic* ; Risk Factors* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to obtain improved susceptibility weighted images (SWI) of the cervical spinal cord using respiratory-induced artifact compensation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The artifact from B0 fluctuations by respiration could be compensated using a double navigator echo approach. The two navigators were inserted in an SWI sequence before and after the image readouts. The B0 fluctuation was measured by each navigator echoes, and the inverse of the fluctuation was applied to eliminate the artifact from fluctuation. The degree of compensation was quantified using a quality index (QI) term for compensated imaging using each navigator. Also, the effect of compensation was analyzed according to the position of the spinal cord using QI values. RESULTS: Compensation using navigator echo gave the improved visualization of SWI in cervical spinal cord compared to non-compensated images. Before compensation, images were influenced by artificial noise from motion in both the superior (QI = 0.031) and inferior (QI = 0.043) regions. In most parts of the superior regions, the second navigator resulted in better quality (QI = 0.024, P < 0.01) compared to the first navigator, but in the inferior regions the first navigator showed better quality (QI = 0.033, P < 0.01) after correction. CONCLUSION: Motion compensation using a double navigator method can increase the improvement of the SWI in the cervical spinal cord. The proposed method makes SWI a useful tool for the diagnosis of spinal cord injury by reducing respiratory-induced artifact.
Artifacts ; Cervical Cord ; Compensation and Redress ; Diagnosis ; Methods ; Noise ; Qi ; Respiration ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries

Cervical spinal canal narrowing can lead to injury of the spinal cord and neurological symptoms including neck pain, headache, weakness and parasthesisas. According to previous and recent clinical researches, we investigated the geometric parameters of normal cervical spinal canal including the sagittal and transverse diameters as well as Torg ratio. The mean sagittal diameter of cervical spinal canal at C(1) to C(7) ranges from 15.33 mm to 20.46 mm, the mean transverse diameter at the same levels ranges from 24.45 mm to 27.00 mm and the mean value of Torg ratio is 0.96. With respect to narrow cervical spinal canal, the following charaterstics are found: firstly, extension of the cervical spine results in statistically significant stenosis as compared with the flexed or neutral positions; secondly, females sustain cervical spinal canal narrowing more easily than males; finally, the consistent narrowest cervical canal level is at C(4) for all ethnicity, but there is a slight variation in the sagittal diameter of cervical spinal stenosis (less than or equal to 14 mm in Whites, less than or equal to 12 mm in Japanese, less than or equal to 13.7 mm in Chinese). Narrow sagittal cervical canal diameter brings about an increased risk of neurological injuries in traumatic, degenerative and inflammatory conditions and is related with extension of cervical spine, gender, as well as ethnicity. It is hoped that this review will be helpful in diagnosing spinal cord and neurological injuries with the geometric parameters of cervical spine in the future.
Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; diagnosis ; Spinal Stenosis

It is very difficult to differentiate radiation myelopathy from metastatic intramedullary spinal cord tumor. We described a case of chronic progressive radiation myelopathy, in which serial magnetic resonance imaging was of great value for the differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Radiation Injuries ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

Simultaneous occurrence of the trachea, esophagus, and spinal cord injuries due to stabbing is rare. The incidence is decreasing, but early diagnosis and surgical treatment is important because it can be life-threatening. We present one case of simultaneous trachea, esophagus, and spinal cord injury caused by self-stabbing complicated with paraplegia.
Early Diagnosis ; Esophagus ; Incidence ; Paraplegia ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Trachea

Renal medullary fibromas which are arisen from the interstitial cell of the renal medulla show small, multiple nodules on autopsy Findings over age 50, but they are very rare clinically. thus several cases have been reported until 1982. When the tumors are large. their clinical presentation is characterized by loin pain, hematuria and palpable mass. The preoperative diagnosis with radiologic studies is very difficult and the confirmative diagnosis was made with pathologic finding. Nephrectomy has been the most common useful treatment and local excision can be used. We report a case of renal medullary interstitial cell fibroma in a 17-year-old girl presented with a child-head sized palpable mass on the left upper quadrant.
Adolescent ; Autopsy ; Diagnosis ; Ejaculation* ; Female ; Fibroma ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality often occurs at cervical spine after major trauma predominantly in the skeletally immature pediatric population. We report an adult patient with this diagnosis involving the thoracic spine after minor trauma. A 44-year-old woman was stretched on the back of her husband, which left her bent backward markedly. Neurological examination at admission revealed flaccid paraparesis and sensory disturbance below the T-10 level. The patient was treated conservatively. But she showed neurological deterioration. The relevant literature is reviewed.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Neurologic Examination ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine ; Spouses

Autophagy ; Cervical Cord ; injuries ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the management of thoracic spinal trauma (TST) associated with closed thoracoabdominal injuries (CTAI).

METHODSA retrospective study was made on 259 patients with TST admitted to our department as an emergency treatment from January 1996 to June 2001. We summarized the clinical features of TST associated with CTAI.

RESULTSAmong 259 patients with thoracic spinal trauma, 112 were associated with CTAI. Traffic accident was the most common cause. The force causing upper TST was more violent than that causing the lower. Pulmonary complications were the leading cause of death in this group. Surgery could not improve neurological function for completely paraplegic patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe reason that upper TST has the tendency to be associated with CTAI is its special anatomical feature. Routine ultrasonic examination can avoid misdiagnosis of latent closed abdominal injuries associated with spinal injury. The presence of potential injuries, especially CTAI, should be considered when deciding whether or not to perform surgery early.

Adult ; Female ; Hemopneumothorax ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Paracentesis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; diagnosis ; Thoracic Injuries ; diagnosis

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare cause of non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) during surfing SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Surfer's myelopathy is a non-traumatic SCI associated with the hyperextension posture during paddling in surfing. Although the definite pathomechanism has not been identified, cord ischemia followed by arterial infarction may be related to this injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A young healthy male patient presented with a SCI that occurred during his first time surfing. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a T2-hyperintense lesion in the spinal cord from D10 to the conus medullaris. RESULTS: The patient completely recovered without any neurologic deficits after steroid therapy and other forms of supportive management. CONCLUSIONS: Since surfing is becoming more common in Korea, awareness of surfer's myelopathy is important for early diagnosis and proper management.
Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Posture ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Cord Ischemia