Degenerative diseases of the cervical spine: comparison of a multiecho data image combination sequence with a magnetisation transfer saturation pulse and cervical myelography and CT

• Published in: Neuroradiology Vol. 46; no. 4; pp. 306 - 309
• Main Authors: DORENBECK, U, SCHREYER, A. G, SCHLAIER, J, HELD, P, FEUERBACH, S, SEITZ, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-04-2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cadaver; Cervical Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Cervical Vertebrae - pathology; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetics; Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myelography - methods; Nervous system; Neurology; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiology; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Spinal Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Stenosis - pathology; Spine; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Nervous system diseases; Pulse sequences; Radiodiagnosis; Saturation; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Spine disease; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Myelography; Cervical spondylosis; Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Image sequence; Transfer; Medical imagery; Degenerative disease; Computerized axial tomography; Magnetisation transfer; Comparative study; Pulse sequence
• ISSN: 0028-3940; 1432-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s00234-004-1175-5

Assessing degenerative disease in the cervical spine remains a challenge. There is much controversy about imaging the cervical spine using MRI. Our aim in this prospective study was to compare a T2*-weighted 2D spoiled gradient-echo multiecho sequence (MEDIC) with a magnetisation transfer saturation pulse with cervical myelography and postmyelographic CT. Using an assessment scale we looked at the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, neural foramina, anterior and posterior nerve roots, grey matter, ligamentaflava, oedema in the spinal cord and stenosis of the spinal canal. We also evaluated postmyelography CT and the MEDIC sequence for assessing narrowing of the neural foramina in a cadaver cervical spine. We examined 67 disc levels in 18 patients, showing 18 disc prolapses and 21 osteophytes narrowing the spinal canal or the neural foramina. All MRI studies showed these abnormalities findings equally well. Postmyelography CT was significantly better for showing the bony structures and the anterior and posterior nerve roots. The MEDIC sequence provided excellent demonstration of soft-tissue structures such as the intervertebral disc and ligamentum flavum. No statistical differences between the imaging modalities were found in the assessment of narrowing of the neural foramina or the extent of spinal stenosis. The cadaver measurements showed no overestimation of abnormalities using the MEDIC sequence.