MRI of cervical spinal cord infarction in a patient with sickle cell disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Hematology
• Radiology

Background:

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin.
• Spinal cord ischemia is a rare but severe complication that can occur in patients with SCD.

Observation:

• A patient with sickle cell disease presented with symptoms suggestive of spinal cord ischemia.
• Initial conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine did not reveal abnormalities.
• Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on MRI demonstrated restricted diffusion in the cervical spinal cord, indicating acute ischemia.

Findings:

• Follow-up conventional MRI 3 days later confirmed the presence of spinal cord infarction.
• The findings highlight the sensitivity of DWI in detecting early ischemic changes in the spinal cord.

Implications:

• Diffusion-weighted imaging is a critical tool for the early diagnosis of spinal cord ischemia in sickle cell disease patients.
• Prompt diagnosis and management of spinal cord ischemia can potentially prevent irreversible neurological damage.
• This case underscores the importance of considering SCD as a potential cause of spinal cord ischemia and utilizing advanced MRI sequences for diagnosis.