[MRI of anterior spinal artery syndrome--chronological study]

We reported two cases of anterior spinal artery syndrome serially observed by MRI of the spinal cord. On the 8th and 10th days respectively, MRI with Gd revealed high signal intensity areas which were thought to be located in the anterior horn region of the two patients. On the 28th and 37th days respectively, there was no enhancement on the MRI with Gd. This enhancement in the anterior horn region might be correlated with vulnerability of the anterior horn to ischemia, and capillary proliferation due to simultaneous appearance of this enhancement with that of capillary proliferation after liquidization of the anterior horn. Therefore, the enhancement on the MRI indicates a correspondence with pathological findings and is be characteristic of anterior spinal artery syndrome.