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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
10:46
Diffusion Imaging in the Rat Cervical Spinal Cord
Published on: April 7, 2015
Diffusion-weighted imaging in noncompressive myelopathies: a 33-patient prospective study
Christophe Marcel1, Stéphane Kremer, Jérémy Jeantroux
1Clinique Neurologique, Hôpital Civil, 1 place de l'Hôpital, Strasbourg, France. chrismarcel@free.fr
Journal of Neurology
|April 29, 2010
Summary
Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements can help distinguish between spinal cord infarcts and inflammatory lesions. Lower ADC values indicate spinal cord infarction, aiding early diagnosis when clinical signs are unclear.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a valuable tool for differentiating brain lesions.
- Noncompressive myelopathy presents diagnostic challenges, necessitating advanced imaging techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic utility of DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements in noncompressive myelopathy.
- To differentiate between ischemic and inflammatory spinal cord lesions using ADC values.
Main Methods:
- Spinal cord MRI with ADC calculation was performed on 33 patients with noncompressive myelopathy and 10 controls.
- Statistical analysis utilized the Student's t-test to compare ADC values between groups.
Main Results:
- Mean ADC values were significantly lower in spinal cord infarcts (0.81 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) compared to inflammatory lesions (1.37 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) and controls (0.93 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s).
- These findings aid in differentiating acute ischemic from inflammatory myelopathies.
Conclusions:
- ADC measurements show promise in differentiating spinal cord infarcts from inflammatory myelopathies, particularly in early disease stages.
- While technically limited currently, ADC analysis offers crucial diagnostic insights for myelopathy.
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