TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluation of the structural integrity of different spinal cord tracts with magnetization transfer ratio in degenerative cervical myelopathy

AU - Filimonova, Elena

AU - Abdaev, Mars

AU - Vasilenko, Ivan

AU - Kubetskij, Yulij

AU - Prokhorov, Oleg

AU - Rzaev, Jamil

PY - 2024/5

Y1 - 2024/5

N2 - Purpose: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction. In this study, we explored the potential of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) for evaluating the structural integrity of spinal cord tracts in patients with clinically significant DCM. Methods: Fifty-three patients with DCM and 41 patients with cervical radiculopathy were evaluated using high-resolution cervical spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which included the magnetization transfer technique. MRI data were analyzed with the Spinal Cord Toolbox (v5.5); MTR values in each spinal tract were calculated and compared between groups after correction for patient age and sex. Correlations between MTR values and patients’ clinical disability rate were also evaluated. Results: A statistically significant reduction in the average MTR of the spinal cord white matter, as well as the MTR of the ventral columns and lateral funiculi, was revealed in the DCM group (adjusted p < 0.01 for all comparisons). Furthermore, reductions in MTR values in the fasciculus cuneatus, spinocerebellar, rubrospinal, and reticulospinal tracts were found in patients with DCM (adjusted p < 0.01 for all comparisons). Positive correlations between the JOA score and the MTR within the ventral columns of the spinal cord (R = 0.38, adjusted p < 0.05) and the ventral spinocerebellar tract (R = 0.41, adjusted p < 0.05) were revealed. Conclusion: The findings of our study indicate that demyelination in patients with DCM primarily affects the spinal tracts of the extrapyramidal system, and the extent of these changes is related to the severity of the condition.

AB - Purpose: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction. In this study, we explored the potential of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) for evaluating the structural integrity of spinal cord tracts in patients with clinically significant DCM. Methods: Fifty-three patients with DCM and 41 patients with cervical radiculopathy were evaluated using high-resolution cervical spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which included the magnetization transfer technique. MRI data were analyzed with the Spinal Cord Toolbox (v5.5); MTR values in each spinal tract were calculated and compared between groups after correction for patient age and sex. Correlations between MTR values and patients’ clinical disability rate were also evaluated. Results: A statistically significant reduction in the average MTR of the spinal cord white matter, as well as the MTR of the ventral columns and lateral funiculi, was revealed in the DCM group (adjusted p < 0.01 for all comparisons). Furthermore, reductions in MTR values in the fasciculus cuneatus, spinocerebellar, rubrospinal, and reticulospinal tracts were found in patients with DCM (adjusted p < 0.01 for all comparisons). Positive correlations between the JOA score and the MTR within the ventral columns of the spinal cord (R = 0.38, adjusted p < 0.05) and the ventral spinocerebellar tract (R = 0.41, adjusted p < 0.05) were revealed. Conclusion: The findings of our study indicate that demyelination in patients with DCM primarily affects the spinal tracts of the extrapyramidal system, and the extent of these changes is related to the severity of the condition.

KW - Degenerative cervical myelopathy

KW - MR-morphometry

KW - Magnetization transfer ratio (MTR)

KW - Spinal Cord Toolbox

KW - Humans

KW - White Matter

KW - Spinal Cord Diseases/diagnostic imaging

KW - Spinal Cord/diagnostic imaging

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods

KW - Cervical Cord/diagnostic imaging

KW - Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging

KW - Spinal Cord Compression

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85186562465&origin=inward&txGid=517cc777d6f5fbe4d5d98f13c191fa84

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/1c18dac3-76f5-3abf-ba7c-f3a8a546d68d/

U2 - 10.1007/s00234-024-03327-w

DO - 10.1007/s00234-024-03327-w

M3 - Article

C2 - 38441573

VL - 66

SP - 839

EP - 846

JO - Neuroradiology

JF - Neuroradiology

SN - 0028-3940

IS - 5

ER -