Flexion MRI in a case of Hirayama disease

We report the case of an 18-year old male with a history of asymmetric weakness and amyotrophy of distal upper extremities, suggestive of Hirayama disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine was obtained both in flexion and neutral position. Flexion MRI showed forward displacement of the dura and subsequent cord compression, with associated marked enlargement and postcontrast enhancement of posterior epidural plexus. These findings are pathognomonic of the disorder. On neutral MRI abnormalities may be subtle: in our case, they included loss of physiological lordosis, asymmetric atrophy and increased T2 signal intensity of the lower anterior cervical cord. The ability to identify abnormalities on neutral MRI however is even more important in that it allows the radiologist to include a flexion sequence in the MRI examination, if not specifically requested by the referring physician, and in cases in which the suspicion of the disorder has not been raised.