[Longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesion: etiology and imaging features]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Spinal Cord Imaging

Background:

• Longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions (LESCL) present a diagnostic challenge due to varied etiologies.
• Understanding the spectrum of causes and characteristic imaging findings is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the diverse causes of LESCL.
• To analyze the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features associated with LESCL.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 51 hospitalized patients with LESCL.
• Review of patient etiologies and MR imaging findings from January 2011 to August 2013.

Main Results:

• Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) was the most common cause (n=25).
• Other identified etiologies included transverse myelitis, subacute combined degeneration, multiple sclerosis (MS), and vascular syndromes.
• MR imaging confirmed continuous longitudinal lesions in all patients, with whole-length spinal cord involvement in 11 cases.

Conclusions:

• LESCL can arise from a wide array of neurological and systemic diseases.
• While MR imaging features are indicative of LESCL, they are not specific to any single etiology.
• Further investigation into specific imaging biomarkers may improve diagnostic accuracy for LESCL.