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Filimonova E, Letyagin V, Zaitsev B, Kubetsky Y, Rzaev J. Application of the T1w/T2w mapping technique for spinal cord assessment in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy. Spinal Cord 2024; 62:6-11. [PMID: 37919382 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-023-00941-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case-control study. OBJECTIVES To investigate signal changes on T1w/T2w signal intensity ratio maps within cervical cord in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). SETTING Novosibirsk Neurosurgery Center, Russia. METHODS A total of 261 patients with DCM and 42 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated using the T1w/T2w mapping method and spinal cord automatic morphometry. The T1w/T2w signal intensity ratio, which reflects white matter integrity, and the spinal cord cross-sectional area (CSA) were calculated and compared between the patients and the controls. In patients with DCM, the correlations between these parameters and neurological scores were also evaluated. RESULTS The regional T1w/T2w ratio values from the cervical spinal cord at the level of maximal compression in patients with DCM were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (p < 0.001), as were the regional CSA values (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the regional values of the T1w/T2w ratio and the values of the CSA at the level of maximal spinal cord compression. CONCLUSIONS T1w/T2w mapping revealed that spinal cord tissue damage exists at the level of maximal compression in patients with DCM in association with spinal cord atrophy according to automatic morphometry. These changes were correlated with each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Filimonova
- Federal Center of Neurosurgery Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk, Russia.
- Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | | | - Boris Zaitsev
- Federal Center of Neurosurgery Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yulij Kubetsky
- Federal Center of Neurosurgery Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Jamil Rzaev
- Federal Center of Neurosurgery Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
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2
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Al-shaari H, J F, R M, CJ H. A systematic review of repeatability and reproducibility studies of diffusion tensor imaging of cervical spinal cord. Br J Radiol 2023; 96:20221019. [PMID: 37751162 PMCID: PMC10607424 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20221019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) techniques are being studied as a possible diagnostic and predictive tool for the evaluation of cervical spinal cord disease. This systematic review aims to evaluate the previous DTI studies that specifically investigated the repeatability and reproducibility of DTI in the cervical spinal cord. METHODS AND MATERIALS A search in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Ovid electronic databases was conducted for articles published between January 1990 and February 2022 that related to the repeatability and reproducibility of DTI in evaluating the cervical spinal cord using one of the following measurements: the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and/or the coefficient of variation (CV), and/or Bland-Altman (BA) differences analysis methods. DTI studies that presented full statistical analysis of repeatability and/or reproducibility tests of the cervical spinal cord in peer-reviewed full-text publications published in journals were included. Articles that included at least one of the keywords within the titles or abstracts were identified. Additional full-text papers were found by searching the citations and reference lists of related articles. This review has followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidance. Risk of bias was evaluated with 13 criteria weighted toward methodological quality of reported studies using the QuADS assessment criteria. This assessment only included full-text articles written in English. RESULTS A total of 11 studies were included and assessed for different characteristics, including sample size,(3-34) re-test time interval (<1 h to >3 months), test-retest reproducibility scores and acquisition method. Six studies used ICC which ranged from poor (ICC<0.37) to excellent reproducibility (ICC 0.91-0.99). Four studies reported an overall CV lower than 40% for all DTI metrics. Three studies reported the Bland-Altman (BA) differences and reported a minimum percentage showing no strong differences between repeated measurements. Quantitative analysis was not undertaken due to heterogeneity of methods. Repeatability and reproducibility measures were generally found to be good. CONCLUSION This study revealed that the application of DTI and its related measures in a clinical setting in the assessment of cervical spinal cord changes is feasible and reproducible. However, cervical spinal cord DTI suffers from some existing limitations that prevent it from being routinely used in research and clinical settings. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE DTI with its parametric maps provide broad evaluation of the tissue structure of axonal white matter and are being studied as a possible diagnostic and predictive tool for the assessment of cervical spinal cord (CSC) disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fulford J
- Medical Imaging Department, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Meertens R
- Medical Imaging Department, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Heales CJ
- Medical Imaging Department, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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3
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Khan AF, Haynes G, Mohammadi E, Muhammad F, Hameed S, Smith ZA. Utility of MRI in Quantifying Tissue Injury in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12093337. [PMID: 37176777 PMCID: PMC10179707 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12093337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a progressive disease that worsens over time if untreated. However, the rate of progression can vary among individuals and may be influenced by various factors, such as the age of the patients, underlying conditions, and the severity and location of the spinal cord compression. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can help slow the progression of CSM and improve symptoms. There has been an increased use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods in diagnosing and managing CSM. MRI methods provide detailed images and quantitative structural and functional data of the cervical spinal cord and brain, allowing for an accurate evaluation of the extent and location of tissue injury. This review aims to provide an understanding of the use of MRI methods in interrogating functional and structural changes in the central nervous system in CSM. Further, we identified several challenges hindering the clinical utility of these neuroimaging methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Fahim Khan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Grace Haynes
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Esmaeil Mohammadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Fauziyya Muhammad
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Sanaa Hameed
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Zachary A Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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Arai K, Itoi T, Akashi N, Miyabe M, Sugimoto K, Matsuda A, Maeta N, Kanda T, Kutara K. Variation in Diffusion Tensor Imaging Parameters in the Cervical and Thoracic Spinal Cord (C1-C5 and C6-T2) Segments of Normal Beagle Dogs. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10010031. [PMID: 36669032 PMCID: PMC9864464 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the characteristics and reference values of each vertebra in the cervicothoracic region by performing diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans and analyzing DTI parameters in normal Beagle dogs. In five adult Beagles under anesthetic maintenance, DTI was performed using a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Axial DTI was performed using three overlapping slabs to cover the cervical and thoracic spinal cords. After post-processing, DTI parameters were calculated along the entire spinal cord. Among DTI parameters, fractional anisotropy, relative anisotropy, and axonal diffusivity significantly decreased in the caudal direction. However, the apparent diffusion coefficient, radial diffusivity, and mean diffusivity values were not significantly correlated with vertebral levels. We provide evidence for the existence of segment-dependent DTI parameters in the canine cervical spinal cord. Therefore, comparisons of DTI parameters between lesions at different vertebral levels should be avoided unless normative data are available. Furthermore, the DTI data obtained in this study may contribute to the development of a clinical reference for spinal cord evaluation in dogs using DTI parameters.
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Nozawa K, Maki S, Furuya T, Okimatsu S, Inoue T, Yunde A, Miura M, Shiratani Y, Shiga Y, Inage K, Eguchi Y, Ohtori S, Orita S. Magnetic resonance image segmentation of the compressed spinal cord in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy using convolutional neural networks. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg 2023; 18:45-54. [PMID: 36342593 DOI: 10.1007/s11548-022-02783-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Spinal cord segmentation is the first step in atlas-based spinal cord image analysis, but segmentation of compressed spinal cords from patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy is challenging. We applied convolutional neural network models to segment the spinal cord from T2-weighted axial magnetic resonance images of DCM patients. Furthermore, we assessed the correlation between the cross-sectional area segmented by this network and the neurological symptoms of the patients. METHODS The CNN architecture was built using U-Net and DeepLabv3 + and PyTorch. The CNN was trained on 2762 axial slices from 174 patients, and an additional 517 axial slices from 33 patients were held out for validation and 777 axial slices from 46 patients for testing. The performance of the CNN was evaluated on a test dataset with Dice coefficients as the outcome measure. The ratio of CSA at the maximum compression level to CSA at the C2 level, as segmented by the CNN, was calculated. The correlation between the spinal cord CSA ratio and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score in DCM patients from the test dataset was investigated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS The best Dice coefficient was achieved when U-Net was used as the architecture and EfficientNet-b7 as the model for transfer learning. Spearman's rs between the spinal cord CSA ratio and the JOA score of DCM patients was 0.38 (p = 0.007), showing a weak correlation. CONCLUSION Using deep learning with magnetic resonance images of deformed spinal cords as training data, we were able to segment compressed spinal cords of DCM patients with a high concordance with expert manual segmentation. In addition, the spinal cord CSA ratio was weakly, but significantly, correlated with neurological symptoms. Our study demonstrated the first steps needed to implement automated atlas-based analysis of DCM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyohei Nozawa
- Department of Medical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Maki
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
- Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Takeo Furuya
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Sho Okimatsu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takaki Inoue
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Atsushi Yunde
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masataka Miura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuki Shiratani
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Shiga
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Inage
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yawara Eguchi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Seiji Ohtori
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Sumihisa Orita
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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6
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Valošek J, Bednařík P, Keřkovský M, Hluštík P, Bednařík J, Svatkova A. Quantitative MR Markers in Non-Myelopathic Spinal Cord Compression: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11:2301. [PMID: 35566426 PMCID: PMC9105390 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11092301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Degenerative spinal cord compression is a frequent pathological condition with increasing prevalence throughout aging. Initial non-myelopathic cervical spinal cord compression (NMDC) might progress over time into potentially irreversible degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). While quantitative MRI (qMRI) techniques demonstrated the ability to depict intrinsic tissue properties, longitudinal in-vivo biomarkers to identify NMDC patients who will eventually develop DCM are still missing. Thus, we aim to review the ability of qMRI techniques (such as diffusion MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), magnetization transfer (MT) imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS)) to serve as prognostic markers in NMDC. While DTI in NMDC patients consistently detected lower fractional anisotropy and higher mean diffusivity at compressed levels, caused by demyelination and axonal injury, MT and 1H-MRS, along with advanced and tract-specific diffusion MRI, recently revealed microstructural alterations, also rostrally pointing to Wallerian degeneration. Recent studies also disclosed a significant relationship between microstructural damage and functional deficits, as assessed by qMRI and electrophysiology, respectively. Thus, tract-specific qMRI, in combination with electrophysiology, critically extends our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of degenerative spinal cord compression and may provide predictive markers of DCM development for accurate patient management. However, the prognostic value must be validated in longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Valošek
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.); (P.H.)
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Bednařík
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark;
- Department of Radiology, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Miloš Keřkovský
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.K.); (J.B.)
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Brno, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hluštík
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.); (P.H.)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bednařík
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.K.); (J.B.)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Svatkova
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark;
- Department of Radiology, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- Department of Medicine III, Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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7
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Davies BM, Mowforth O, Gharooni AA, Tetreault L, Nouri A, Dhillon RS, Bednarik J, Martin AR, Young A, Takahashi H, Boerger TF, Newcombe VFJ, Zipser CM, Freund P, Koljonen PA, Rodrigues-Pinto R, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Wilson JR, Kurpad SN, Fehlings MG, Kwon BK, Harrop JS, Guest JD, Curt A, Kotter MRN. A New Framework for Investigating the Biological Basis of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 5]: Mechanical Stress, Vulnerability and Time. Global Spine J 2022; 12:78S-96S. [PMID: 35174728 PMCID: PMC8859710 DOI: 10.1177/21925682211057546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Literature Review (Narrative). OBJECTIVE To propose a new framework, to support the investigation and understanding of the pathobiology of DCM, AO Spine RECODE-DCM research priority number 5. METHODS Degenerative cervical myelopathy is a common and disabling spinal cord disorder. In this perspective, we review key knowledge gaps between the clinical phenotype and our biological models. We then propose a reappraisal of the key driving forces behind DCM and an individual's susceptibility, including the proposal of a new framework. RESULTS Present pathobiological and mechanistic knowledge does not adequately explain the disease phenotype; why only a subset of patients with visualized cord compression show clinical myelopathy, and the amount of cord compression only weakly correlates with disability. We propose that DCM is better represented as a function of several interacting mechanical forces, such as shear, tension and compression, alongside an individual's vulnerability to spinal cord injury, influenced by factors such as age, genetics, their cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and nervous system status, and time. CONCLUSION Understanding the disease pathobiology is a fundamental research priority. We believe a framework of mechanical stress, vulnerability, and time may better represent the disease as a whole. Whilst this remains theoretical, we hope that at the very least it will inspire new avenues of research that better encapsulate the full spectrum of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oliver Mowforth
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Lindsay Tetreault
- New York University, Langone Health, Graduate Medical Education, Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aria Nouri
- Division of Neurosurgery, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Rana S. Dhillon
- Department of Neurosurgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Josef Bednarik
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Allan R. Martin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Adam Young
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hitoshi Takahashi
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Timothy F. Boerger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
| | - Virginia FJ Newcombe
- Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carl Moritz Zipser
- University Spine Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Freund
- University Spine Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paul Aarne Koljonen
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ricardo Rodrigues-Pinto
- Spinal Unit (UVM), Department of Orthopaedics, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto - Hospital de Santo António, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jefferson R. Wilson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shekar N Kurpad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian K. Kwon
- Vancouver Spine Surgery Institute, Department of Orthopedics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James S. Harrop
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James D. Guest
- Department of Neurosurgery and the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, The Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Armin Curt
- University Spine Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
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8
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David G, Vallotton K, Hupp M, Curt A, Freund P, Seif M. Extent of cord pathology in the lumbosacral enlargement in non-traumatic versus traumatic spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:639-650. [PMID: 35018824 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study compares remote neurodegenerative changes caudal to a cervical injury in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) (i.e., non-traumatic) and incomplete traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) patients, using MRI-based tissue area measurements and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Eighteen mild to moderate DCM patients with sensory impairments (mJOA score: 16.2±1.9), 14 incomplete tetraplegic tSCI patients (AIS C&D), and 20 healthy controls were recruited. All participants received DTI and T2*-weighted scans in the lumbosacral enlargement (caudal to injury) and at C2/C3 (rostral to injury). MRI readouts included DTI metrics in the white matter (WM) columns and cross-sectional WM and gray matter area. One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc comparison (p<0.05) was used to assess group differences. In the lumbosacral enlargement, compared to DCM, tSCI patients exhibited decreased fractional anisotropy in the lateral (tSCI vs. DCM, -11.9%, p=0.007) and ventral WM column (-8.0%, p=0.021), and showed trend toward lower values in the dorsal column (-8.9%, p=0.068). At C2/C3, compared to controls, fractional anisotropy was lower in both groups in the dorsal (DCM vs. controls, -7.9%, p=0.024; tSCI vs. controls, -10.0%, p=0.007) and in the lateral column (DCM: -6.2%, p=0.039; tSCI: -13.3%, p<0.001), while tSCI patients had lower fractional anisotropy than DCM patients in the lateral column (-7.6%, p=0.029). WM areas were not different between patient groups but were lower compared to controls in the lumbosacral enlargement (DCM: -16.9%, p<0.001; tSCI, -10.5%, p=0.043) and at C2/C3 (DCM: -16.0%, p<0.001; tSCI: -18.1%, p<0.001). In conclusion, mild to moderate DCM and incomplete tSCI lead to similar degree of degeneration of the dorsal and lateral columns at C2/C3, but tSCI results in more widespread white matter damage in the lumbosacral enlargement. These remote changes are likely to contribute to the patients' impairment and recovery. DTI is a sensitive tool to assess remote pathological changes in DCM and tSCI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely David
- University of Zurich, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 37734, Department of Systems Neuroscience, Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Kevin Vallotton
- University of Zurich, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Markus Hupp
- University of Zurich, 27217, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Armin Curt
- University of Zurich, 27217, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Patrick Freund
- University of Zurich, 27217, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.,UCL Institute of Neurology, 61554, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.,UCL Institute of Neurology, 61554, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 27184, Department of Neurophysics, Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Maryam Seif
- University of Zurich, 27217, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 27184, Leipzig, Department of Neurophysics, Germany;
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9
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Moneo J, Kramer JLK, Nightingale TE, Berger MJ. Can Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveal Lower Motor Neuron Damage after Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury? A Scoping Review. Neurotrauma Rep 2021; 2:541-547. [PMID: 34901947 PMCID: PMC8655802 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2021.0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoring muscle function to patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) will invariably require a functioning lower motor neuron (LMN). As techniques such as nerve transfer surgery emerge, characterizing the extent of LMN damage associated with SCIs becomes clinically important. Current methods of LMN diagnosis have inherent limitations that could potentially be overcome by the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers: specific features on MRI that are indicative of LMN integrity. To identify research on MRI biomarkers of LMN damage in the acute phase after SCI, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles published from inception to April 27, 2021. Overall, 2 of 58 unique articles screened met our inclusion criteria, both of which were small studies. We therefore identify MRI biomarkers of LMN damage overlying SCI as a notable gap in the literature. Because of the lack of existing literature on this specific problem, we further our discussion by examining concepts explored in research characterizing MRI biomarkers of spinal cord and neuronal damage in different contexts that may provide value in future work to identify a biomarker for LMN damage in SCI. We conclude that MRI biomarkers of LMN damage in SCI is an underexplored, but promising, area of research as emerging, function-restoring therapies requiring this information continue to advance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jethro Moneo
- MD Program, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - John L K Kramer
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Kinesiology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas E Nightingale
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Berger
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Kinesiology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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10
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Generic acquisition protocol for quantitative MRI of the spinal cord. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:4611-4632. [PMID: 34400839 PMCID: PMC8811488 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00588-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative spinal cord (SC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presents many challenges, including a lack of standardized imaging protocols. Here we present a prospectively harmonized quantitative MRI protocol, which we refer to as the spine generic protocol, for users of 3T MRI systems from the three main manufacturers: GE, Philips and Siemens. The protocol provides guidance for assessing SC macrostructural and microstructural integrity: T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging for SC cross-sectional area computation, multi-echo gradient echo for gray matter cross-sectional area, and magnetization transfer and diffusion weighted imaging for assessing white matter microstructure. In a companion paper from the same authors, the spine generic protocol was used to acquire data across 42 centers in 260 healthy subjects. The key details of the spine generic protocol are also available in an open-access document that can be found at https://github.com/spine-generic/protocols . The protocol will serve as a starting point for researchers and clinicians implementing new SC imaging initiatives so that, in the future, inclusion of the SC in neuroimaging protocols will be more common. The protocol could be implemented by any trained MR technician or by a researcher/clinician familiar with MRI acquisition.
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11
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Lukas C, Bellenberg B, Prados F, Valsasina P, Parmar K, Brouwer I, Pareto D, Rovira À, Sastre-Garriga J, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Kappos L, Rocca MA, Filippi M, Yiannakas M, Barkhof F, Vrenken H. Quantification of Cervical Cord Cross-Sectional Area: Which Acquisition, Vertebra Level, and Analysis Software? A Multicenter Repeatability Study on a Traveling Healthy Volunteer. Front Neurol 2021; 12:693333. [PMID: 34421797 PMCID: PMC8371197 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.693333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Considerable spinal cord (SC) atrophy occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS). While MRI-based techniques for SC cross-sectional area (CSA) quantification have improved over time, there is no common agreement on whether to measure at single vertebral levels or across larger regions and whether upper SC CSA can be reliably measured from brain images. Aim: To compare in a multicenter setting three CSA measurement methods in terms of repeatability at different anatomical levels. To analyze the agreement between measurements performed on the cervical cord and on brain MRI. Method: One healthy volunteer was scanned three times on the same day in six sites (three scanner vendors) using a 3T MRI protocol including sagittal 3D T1-weighted imaging of the brain (covering the upper cervical cord) and of the SC. Images were analyzed using two semiautomated methods [NeuroQLab (NQL) and the Active Surface Model (ASM)] and the fully automated Spinal Cord Toolbox (SCT) on different vertebral levels (C1-C2; C2/3) on SC and brain images and the entire cervical cord (C1-C7) on SC images only. Results: CSA estimates were significantly smaller using SCT compared to NQL and ASM (p < 0.001), regardless of the cord level. Inter-scanner repeatability was best in C1-C7: coefficients of variation for NQL, ASM, and SCT: 0.4, 0.6, and 1.0%, respectively. CSAs estimated in brain MRI were slightly lower than in SC MRI (all p ≤ 0.006 at the C1-C2 level). Despite protocol harmonization between the centers with regard to image resolution and use of high-contrast 3D T1-weighted sequences, the variability of CSA was partly scanner dependent probably due to differences in scanner geometry, coil design, and details of the MRI parameter settings. Conclusion: For CSA quantification, dedicated isotropic SC MRI should be acquired, which yielded best repeatability in the entire cervical cord. In the upper part of the cervical cord, use of brain MRI scans entailed only a minor loss of CSA repeatability compared to SC MRI. Due to systematic differences between scanners and the CSA quantification software, both should be kept constant within a study. The MRI dataset of this study is available publicly to test new analysis approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Lukas
- Institute of Neuroradiology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Barbara Bellenberg
- Institute of Neuroradiology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ferran Prados
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- e-Health Centre, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paola Valsasina
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Katrin Parmar
- Neurological Clinic and Policlinic, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Iman Brouwer
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Deborah Pareto
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Àlex Rovira
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Sastre-Garriga
- Department of Neurology–Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Brain & Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ludwig Kappos
- Neurological Clinic and Policlinic, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwig, Switzerland
| | - Maria A. Rocca
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marios Yiannakas
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hugo Vrenken
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, Netherlands
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12
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Vallotton K, David G, Hupp M, Pfender N, Cohen-Adad J, Fehlings MG, Samson RS, Wheeler-Kingshott CAMG, Curt A, Freund P, Seif M. Tracking White and Gray Matter Degeneration along the Spinal Cord Axis in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:2978-2987. [PMID: 34238034 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to determine tissue-specific neurodegeneration across the spinal cord in patients with mild-moderate degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Twenty-four mild-moderate DCM and 24 healthy subjects were recruited. In patients, a T2-weighted scan was acquired at the compression site, whereas in all participants a T2*-weighted and diffusion-weighted scan was acquired at the cervical level (C2-C3) and in the lumbar enlargement (i.e., rostral and caudal to the site of compression). We quantified intramedullary signal changes, maximal canal and cord compression, white (WM) and gray matter (GM) atrophy, and microstructural indices from diffusion-weighted scans. All patients underwent clinical (modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association; mJOA) and electrophysiological assessments. Regression analysis assessed associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) readouts and electrophysiological and clinical outcomes. Twenty patients were classified with mild and 4 with moderate DCM using the mJOA scale. The most frequent site of compression was at the C5-C6 level, with maximum cord compression of 38.73% ± 11.57%. Ten patients showed imaging evidence of cervical myelopathy. In the cervical cord, WM and GM atrophy and WM microstructural changes were evident, whereas in the lumbar cord only WM showed atrophy and microstructural changes. Remote cervical cord WM microstructural changes were pronounced in patients with radiological myelopathy and associated with impaired electrophysiology. Lumbar cord WM atrophy was associated with lower limb sensory impairments. In conclusion, tissue-specific neurodegeneration revealed by quantitative MRI is already apparent across the spinal cord in mild-moderate DCM before the onset of severe clinical impairments. WM microstructural changes are particularly sensitive to remote pathologically and clinically eloquent changes in DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Vallotton
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gergely David
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Hupp
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikolai Pfender
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Mila-Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Department of Surgery and Spine Program, University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rebecca S Samson
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain Connectivity Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
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13
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Hupp M, Pfender N, Vallotton K, Rosner J, Friedl S, Zipser CM, Sutter R, Klarhöfer M, Spirig JM, Betz M, Schubert M, Freund P, Farshad M, Curt A. The Restless Spinal Cord in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2021; 42:597-609. [PMID: 33541903 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The spinal cord is subject to a periodic, cardiac-related movement, which is increased at the level of a cervical stenosis. Increased oscillations may exert mechanical stress on spinal cord tissue causing intramedullary damage. Motion analysis thus holds promise as a biomarker related to disease progression in degenerative cervical myelopathy. Our aim was characterization of the cervical spinal cord motion in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Phase-contrast MR imaging data were analyzed in 55 patients (37 men; mean age, 56.2 [SD,12.0] years; 36 multisegmental stenoses) and 18 controls (9 men, P = .368; mean age, 62.2 [SD, 6.5] years; P = .024). Parameters of interest included the displacement and motion pattern. Motion data were pooled on the segmental level for comparison between groups. RESULTS In patients, mean craniocaudal oscillations were increased manifold at any level of a cervical stenosis (eg, C5 displacement: controls [n = 18], 0.54 [SD, 0.16] mm; patients [n = 29], monosegmental stenosis [n = 10], 1.86 [SD, 0.92] mm; P < .001) and even in segments remote from the level of the stenosis (eg, C2 displacement: controls [n = 18], 0.36 [SD, 0.09] mm; patients [n = 52]; stenosis: C3, n = 21; C4, n = 11; C5, n = 18; C6, n = 2; 0.85 [SD, 0.46] mm; P < .001). Motion at C2 differed with the distance to the next stenotic segment and the number of stenotic segments. The motion pattern in most patients showed continuous spinal cord motion throughout the cardiac cycle. CONCLUSIONS Patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy show altered spinal cord motion with increased and ongoing oscillations at and also beyond the focal level of stenosis. Phase-contrast MR imaging has promise as a biomarker to reveal mechanical stress to the cord and may be applicable to predict disease progression and the impact of surgical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hupp
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.)
| | - N Pfender
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.)
| | - K Vallotton
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.)
| | - J Rosner
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.).,Department of Neurology (J.R.), University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - S Friedl
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.)
| | - C M Zipser
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.)
| | | | - M Klarhöfer
- Siemens Healthcare AG (M.K.), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J M Spirig
- University Spine Center Zurich (J.M.S., M.B., M.F., A.C.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Betz
- University Spine Center Zurich (J.M.S., M.B., M.F., A.C.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Schubert
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.)
| | - P Freund
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.)
| | - M Farshad
- University Spine Center Zurich (J.M.S., M.B., M.F., A.C.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Curt
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (M.H., N.P., K.V., J.R., S.F., C.M.Z., M.S., P.F., A.C.).,University Spine Center Zurich (J.M.S., M.B., M.F., A.C.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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14
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Mossa-Basha M, Peterson DJ, Hippe DS, Vranic JE, Hofstetter C, Reyes M, Bombardier C, Jarvik JG. Segmented quantitative diffusion tensor imaging evaluation of acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury. Br J Radiol 2021; 94:20201000. [PMID: 33180553 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20201000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate segmented diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) white matter tract fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values in acute cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). METHODS 15 patients with acute CSCI and 12 control subjects were prospectively recruited and underwent axial DTI as part of the spine trauma MRI. Datasets were put through a semi-automated probabilistic segmentation algorithm that analyzed white matter, motor and sensory tracts. FA and MD values were calculated for white matter, sensory (spinal lemniscal) and motor tracts (ventral/lateral corticospinal) at the level of clinical injury, levels remote from injury and in normal controls. RESULTS There were significant differences in FA between the level of injury and controls for total white matter (0.65 ± .09 vs 0.68 ± .07; p = .044), motor tracts (0.64 ± .07 vs 0.7 ± .09; p = .006), and combined motor/sensory tracts (0.63 ± .09 vs 0.69 ± .08; p = .022). In addition, there were significant FA differences between the level of injury and one level caudal to the injury for combined motor tracts (0.64 ± .07 vs 0.69 ± .05; p = .002) and combined motor/sensory tracts (0.63 ± .09 vs 0.7 ± .07; p = .011). There were no significant differences for MD between the level of injury and one level caudal to the injury or normal controls. CONCLUSION Abnormalities in DTI metrics of DTI-segmented white matter tracts were detected at the neurological level of injury relative to normal controls and levels remote from the injury site, confirming its value in CSCI assessment. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE Segmented DTI analysis can help identify microstructural spinal cord abnormalities in the setting of traumatic cervical spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel S Hippe
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Justin E Vranic
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Maria Reyes
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Charles Bombardier
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Jarvik
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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15
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Macromolecular changes in spinal cord white matter characterize whiplash outcome at 1-year post motor vehicle collision. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22221. [PMID: 33335188 PMCID: PMC7747591 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79190-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Each year, whiplash injuries from motor vehicle collisions (MVC) affect millions worldwide, with no strong evidence of pathology. While the majority recover soon after the injury, the same is not true for roughly 20% reporting higher levels of pain and distress, without diagnostic options. This study used magnetization transfer (MT) imaging to quantify white matter integrity in 78 subjects with varying levels of pain, 1 year after MVC. MT images of the cervical spinal cord were collected parallel to the intervertebral disks. MT ratios (MTR) were calculated in select white matter tracts along with MTR homogeneity (MTRh) at each level. Significant differences were observed between clinical outcome groups in the left and right spinothalamic tracts (p = 0.003 and 0.020) and MTRh (p = 0.009). MTRh was elevated in females with poor recovery versus females reporting recovery (p < 0.001) or milder symptoms (p < 0.001), and in males reporting recovery (p = 0.007) or no recovery (p < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between recovery status and sex (p = 0.015). MT imaging identified tract specific and regional changes in white matter integrity suggesting potential insults to the cord. Additionally, significant MTRh differences between sexes were observed, characterizing the heterogeneity of whiplash recovery and worse outcomes in females.
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16
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Development of pre-syrinx state and syringomyelia following a minor injury: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2020; 14:223. [PMID: 33203466 PMCID: PMC7672986 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-020-02568-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A generally accepted rule is that posttraumatic syringomyelia (PTS) results from spinal cord injury (SCI). Case presentation Here, we report the development of syringomyelia without SCI in a 54-year-old Caucasian man following a mild motor vehicle accident. The computed tomography on admission excluded an injury of the spine. Because of neck and back pain, magnetic resonance imaging was performed on day 3 post-injury and demonstrated minimal changes from a ligamentous strain at the cervicothoracic transition. Any traumatic affection of the bone, vertebral discs, intraspinal compartment, or spinal cord were excluded. Some limb weakness and neurogenic bladder dysfunction started manifesting within the following weeks. Repeated MRIs following the accident demonstrated arachnoid adhesions at the C1–2 level and spinal cord edema equivalent to a pre-syrinx state at 12 months and syrinx formation at 24 months. Because of further deterioration, decompression was performed at 36 months. Conclusions We conclude that even after a minor trauma PTS can occur and that medullary edema (pre-syrinx state) may precede syrinx formation.
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17
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Labounek R, Valošek J, Horák T, Svátková A, Bednařík P, Vojtíšek L, Horáková M, Nestrašil I, Lenglet C, Cohen-Adad J, Bednařík J, Hluštík P. HARDI-ZOOMit protocol improves specificity to microstructural changes in presymptomatic myelopathy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17529. [PMID: 33067520 PMCID: PMC7567840 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70297-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) proved promising in patients with non-myelopathic degenerative cervical cord compression (NMDCCC), i.e., without clinically manifested myelopathy. Aim of the study is to present a fast multi-shell HARDI-ZOOMit dMRI protocol and validate its usability to detect microstructural myelopathy in NMDCCC patients. In 7 young healthy volunteers, 13 age-comparable healthy controls, 18 patients with mild NMDCCC and 15 patients with severe NMDCCC, the protocol provided higher signal-to-noise ratio, enhanced visualization of white/gray matter structures in microstructural maps, improved dMRI metric reproducibility, preserved sensitivity (SE = 87.88%) and increased specificity (SP = 92.31%) of control-patient group differences when compared to DTI-RESOLVE protocol (SE = 87.88%, SP = 76.92%). Of the 56 tested microstructural parameters, HARDI-ZOOMit yielded significant patient-control differences in 19 parameters, whereas in DTI-RESOLVE data, differences were observed in 10 parameters, with mostly lower robustness. Novel marker the white-gray matter diffusivity gradient demonstrated the highest separation. HARDI-ZOOMit protocol detected larger number of crossing fibers (5–15% of voxels) with physiologically plausible orientations than DTI-RESOLVE protocol (0–8% of voxels). Crossings were detected in areas of dorsal horns and anterior white commissure. HARDI-ZOOMit protocol proved to be a sensitive and practical tool for clinical quantitative spinal cord imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Labounek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Olomouc, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Department of Neurology, Palacký University, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA
| | - Jan Valošek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Olomouc, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Department of Neurology, Palacký University, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Horák
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Svátková
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Medicine III, Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Imaging Methods, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 701 03, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Bednařík
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,High Field MR Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lubomír Vojtíšek
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Magda Horáková
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Igor Nestrašil
- Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA.,Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA
| | - Christophe Lenglet
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Josef Bednařík
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hluštík
- Department of Neurology, Palacký University, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic. .,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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18
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Fiani B, Noblett C, Nanney J, Doan T, Pennington E, Jarrah R, Sarno E, Nikolaidis D. Diffusion tensor imaging of the spinal cord status post trauma. Surg Neurol Int 2020; 11:276. [PMID: 33033638 PMCID: PMC7538980 DOI: 10.25259/sni_495_2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Since its development in 1994, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been successfully used to assess structural and functional changes to neurological tissue within the central nervous system. Namely, DTI is a noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based technique that uses anisotropic diffusion to visualize and estimate the organization of white matter in neuronal tissue. It has been used to study various spinal pathologies including neoplastic diseases, degenerative myelopathy, demyelinating diseases, and infections involving the spinal cord. However, due to technical uncertainties and experimental limitations, DTI has rarely been clinically applied to assess trauma-related spinal pathologies. Methods An extensive review of the published literature on DTI was performed utilizing PubMed, OVID Medline, and EMBASE journals. Terms used for the search included DTI and spine trauma. Results The search yielded full text English language-related articles regarding DTIs application, limitations, and functional outcomes secondary to spinal trauma. Conclusion DTI relies on anisotropy in CNS tissues to determine the spatial orientation of surrounding axon tracts and define anatomical boundaries. Diffusion along three principle axes is used to calculate the following four DTI indices; fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), longitudinal ADC, and transverse ADC. Using DTI as a diagnostic tool status, post spine trauma has proven useful in examining the morphological and physiological extent of spinal lesions beyond conventional MRI. Experimental studies are now utilizing DTI to analyze the severity of spinal cord trauma during the hyperacute phase and may potentially be used to providing additional diagnostic information for improved treatment efficiency (e.g., as shown during the stem cell therapy trials).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Fiani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, CA
| | - Christian Noblett
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England, Biddeford, ME
| | - Jacob Nanney
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
| | - Thao Doan
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | | | - Ryan Jarrah
- College of Literature, Arts, and Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI, United States
| | - Erika Sarno
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
| | - Daniel Nikolaidis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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19
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Degenerative cervical myelopathy - update and future directions. Nat Rev Neurol 2020; 16:108-124. [PMID: 31974455 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0303-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the leading cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults worldwide. DCM encompasses various acquired (age-related) and congenital pathologies related to degeneration of the cervical spinal column, including hypertrophy and/or calcification of the ligaments, intervertebral discs and osseous tissues. These pathologies narrow the spinal canal, leading to chronic spinal cord compression and disability. Owing to the ageing population, rates of DCM are increasing. Expeditious diagnosis and treatment of DCM are needed to avoid permanent disability. Over the past 10 years, advances in basic science and in translational and clinical research have improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of DCM and helped delineate evidence-based practices for diagnosis and treatment. Surgical decompression is recommended for moderate and severe DCM; the best strategy for mild myelopathy remains unclear. Next-generation quantitative microstructural MRI and neurophysiological recordings promise to enable quantification of spinal cord tissue damage and help predict clinical outcomes. Here, we provide a comprehensive, evidence-based review of DCM, including its definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and non-operative and operative management. With this Review, we aim to equip physicians across broad disciplines with the knowledge necessary to make a timely diagnosis of DCM, recognize the clinical features that influence management and identify when urgent surgical intervention is warranted.
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20
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Anterior fissure, central canal, posterior septum and more: New insights into the cervical spinal cord gray and white matter regional organization using T1 mapping at 7T. Neuroimage 2020; 205:116275. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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21
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Seif M, David G, Huber E, Vallotton K, Curt A, Freund P. Cervical Cord Neurodegeneration in Traumatic and Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma 2019; 37:860-867. [PMID: 31544628 PMCID: PMC7071087 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to compare macrostructural and microstructural neurodegenerative changes remote from a cervical spinal cord injury in traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) and degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) patients using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-nine tSCI patients, 20 mild/moderate DCM patients, and 22 healthy controls underwent a high-resolution MRI protocol at the cervical cord (C2/C3). High-resolution T2*-weighted and diffusion-weighted scans provided data to calculate tissue-specific cross-sectional areas of the spinal cord and tract-specific diffusion indices of cord white matter, respectively. Regression analysis determined associations between neurodegeneration and clinical impairment. tSCI patients showed more impairment in upper limb strength and manual dexterity when compared with DCM patients. While macrostructural MRI measures revealed a similar extent of remote cord atrophy at cervical level, microstructural measures (diffusion indices) were able to distinguish more pronounced tract-specific neurodegeneration in tSCI patients when compared with DCM patients. Tract-specific neurodegeneration was associated with upper limb impairment. Despite clinical differences between severely impaired tSCI compared with mildly affected DCM patient, extensive cord atrophy is present remotely from the focal spinal cord injury. Diffusion indices revealed greater tract-specific alterations in tSCI patients. Therefore, diffusion indices are more sensitive than macrostructural MRI measures as these are able to distinguish between traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury. Neuroimaging biomarkers of cervical cord integrity hold potential as predictors of recovery and might be suitable biomarkers for interventional trials both in traumatic and non-traumatic SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gergely David
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eveline Huber
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kevin Vallotton
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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22
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David G, Mohammadi S, Martin AR, Cohen-Adad J, Weiskopf N, Thompson A, Freund P. Traumatic and nontraumatic spinal cord injury: pathological insights from neuroimaging. Nat Rev Neurol 2019; 15:718-731. [PMID: 31673093 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0270-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Pathophysiological changes in the spinal cord white and grey matter resulting from injury can be observed with MRI techniques. These techniques provide sensitive markers of macrostructural and microstructural tissue integrity, which correlate with histological findings. Spinal cord MRI findings in traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) and nontraumatic spinal cord injury - the most common form of which is degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) - have provided important insights into the pathophysiological processes taking place not just at the focal injury site but also rostral and caudal to the spinal injury. Although tSCI and DCM have different aetiologies, they show similar degrees of spinal cord pathology remote from the injury site, suggesting the involvement of similar secondary degenerative mechanisms. Advanced quantitative MRI protocols that are sensitive to spinal cord pathology have the potential to improve diagnosis and, more importantly, predict outcomes in patients with tSCI or nontraumatic spinal cord injury. This Review describes the insights into tSCI and DCM that have been revealed by neuroimaging and outlines current activities and future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely David
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Siawoosh Mohammadi
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Allan R Martin
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alan Thompson
- Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK. .,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. .,Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK. .,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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23
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Badhiwala JH, Ahuja CS, Fehlings MG. Time is spine: a review of translational advances in spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Spine 2019; 30:1-18. [PMID: 30611186 DOI: 10.3171/2018.9.spine18682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event with far-reaching physical, emotional, and economic consequences for patients, families, and society at large. Timely delivery of specialized care has reduced mortality; however, long-term neurological recovery continues to be limited. In recent years, a number of exciting neuroprotective and regenerative strategies have emerged and have come under active investigation in clinical trials, and several more are coming down the translational pipeline. Among ongoing trials are RISCIS (riluzole), INSPIRE (Neuro-Spinal Scaffold), MASC (minocycline), and SPRING (VX-210). Microstructural MRI techniques have improved our ability to image the injured spinal cord at high resolution. This innovation, combined with serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, holds the promise of providing a quantitative biomarker readout of spinal cord neural tissue injury, which may improve prognostication and facilitate stratification of patients for enrollment into clinical trials. Given evidence of the effectiveness of early surgical decompression and growing recognition of the concept that "time is spine," infrastructural changes at a systems level are being implemented in many regions around the world to provide a streamlined process for transfer of patients with acute SCI to a specialized unit. With the continued aging of the population, central cord syndrome is soon expected to become the most common form of acute traumatic SCI; characterization of the pathophysiology, natural history, and optimal treatment of these injuries is hence a key public health priority. Collaborative international efforts have led to the development of clinical practice guidelines for traumatic SCI based on robust evaluation of current evidence. The current article provides an in-depth review of progress in SCI, covering the above areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jetan H Badhiwala
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, and.,2Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto; and
| | - Christopher S Ahuja
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, and.,2Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto; and.,3Department of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, and.,2Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto; and.,3Department of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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24
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Badhiwala JH, Wilson JR, Kwon BK, Casha S, Fehlings MG. A Review of Clinical Trials in Spinal Cord Injury Including Biomarkers. J Neurotrauma 2019; 35:1906-1917. [PMID: 29888678 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.5935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) entered the arena of prospective, randomized clinical trials almost 40 years ago, with the undertaking of the National Acute Spinal Cord Study (NASCIS) I trial. Since then, a number of clinical trials have been conducted in the field, spurred by the devastating physical, social, and economic consequences of acute SCI for patients, families, and society at large. Many of these have been controversial and attracted criticism. The current review provides a critical summary of select past and current clinical trials in SCI, focusing in particular on the findings of prospective, randomized controlled trials, the challenges and barriers encountered, and the valuable lessons learned that can be applied to future trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jetan H Badhiwala
- 1 Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jefferson R Wilson
- 1 Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian K Kwon
- 2 Vancouver Spine Surgery Institute, Department of Orthopedics, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven Casha
- 3 Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary , Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- 1 Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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25
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Cadotte DW, Akbar MA, Fehlings MG, Stroman PW, Cohen-Adad J. What Has Been Learned from Magnetic Resonance Imaging Examination of the Injured Human Spinal Cord: A Canadian Perspective. J Neurotrauma 2019; 35:1942-1957. [PMID: 30074873 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.5903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has transformed the way surgeons and researchers study and treat spinal cord injury. In this narrative review, we explore the historical context of imaging the human spinal cord and describe how MRI has evolved from providing the first visualization of the human spinal cord in the 1980s to a remarkable set of imaging tools today. The article focuses in particular on the role of Canadian researchers to this field. We begin by outlining the clinical context of traumatic injury to the human spinal cord and describe why current MRI standards fall short when it comes to treating this disabling condition. Parts 2 and 3 of this work explore an exciting and dramatic shift in the use of MRI technology to aid in our understanding and treatment of traumatic injury to the spinal cord. We explore the use of functional imaging (part 2) and structural imaging (part 3) and explore how these techniques have evolved, how they are used, and the challenges that we face for continued refinement and application to patients who live with the neurological and functional deficits caused by injury to the delicate spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Cadotte
- 1 University of Calgary Spine Program, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary , Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - M Ali Akbar
- 2 Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- 2 Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick W Stroman
- 3 Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queens University , Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- 4 NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering , Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebéc, Canada .,5 Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal , Montreal, Quebéc, Canada
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26
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Wilson JRF, Badhiwala JH, Moghaddamjou A, Martin AR, Fehlings MG. Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy; A Review of the Latest Advances and Future Directions in Management. Neurospine 2019; 16:494-505. [PMID: 31476852 PMCID: PMC6790745 DOI: 10.14245/ns.1938314.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The assessment, diagnosis, operative and nonoperative management of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) have evolved rapidly over the last 20 years. A clearer understanding of the pathobiology of DCM has led to attempts to develop objective measurements of the severity of myelopathy, including technology such as multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, biomarkers, and ancillary clinical testing. New pharmacological treatments have the potential to alter the course of surgical outcomes, and greater innovation in surgical techniques have made surgery safer, more effective and less invasive. Future developments for the treatment of DCM will seek to improve the diagnostic accuracy of imaging, improve the objectivity of clinical assessment, and increase the use of surgical technology to ensure the best outcome is achieved for each individual patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie R F Wilson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Spinal Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jetan H Badhiwala
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Spinal Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ali Moghaddamjou
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Spinal Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Allan R Martin
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Spinal Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Spinal Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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27
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Barry RL, Smith SA. Measurement of T 2* in the human spinal cord at 3T. Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:743-748. [PMID: 30924198 PMCID: PMC6510624 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To measure the transverse relaxation time T2* in healthy human cervical spinal cord gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) at 3T. METHODS Thirty healthy volunteers were recruited. Axial images were acquired using an averaged multi-echo gradient-echo (mFFE) T2*-weighted sequence with 5 echoes. We used the signal equation for an mFFE sequence with constant dephasing gradients after each echo to jointly estimate the spin density and T2* for each voxel. RESULTS No global difference in T2* was observed between all GM (41.3 ± 5.6 ms) and all WM (39.8 ± 5.4 ms). No significant differences were observed between left (43.2 ± 6.8 ms) and right (43.4 ± 5.5 ms) ventral GM, left (38.3 ± 6.1 ms) and right (38.6 ± 6.5 ms) dorsal GM, and left (39.4 ± 5.8 ms) and right (40.3 ± 5.8 ms) lateral WM. However, significant regional differences were observed between ventral (43.4 ± 5.7 ms) and dorsal (38.4 ± 6.0 ms) GM (p < 0.05), as well as between ventral (42.9 ± 6.5 ms) and dorsal (37.9 ± 6.2 ms) WM (p < 0.05). In analyses across slices, inferior T2* was longer than superior T2* in GM (44.7 ms vs. 40.1 ms; p < 0.01) and in WM (41.8 ms vs. 35.9 ms; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Significant differences in T2* are observed between ventral and dorsal GM, ventral and dorsal WM, and superior and inferior GM and WM. There is no evidence for bilateral asymmetry in T2* in the healthy cord. These values of T2* in the spinal cord are notably lower than most reported values of T2* in the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L. Barry
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA,Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seth A. Smith
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA,Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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28
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Tempest-Mitchell J, Hilton B, Davies BM, Nouri A, Hutchinson PJ, Scoffings DJ, Mannion RJ, Trivedi R, Timofeev I, Crawford JR, Hay D, Laing RJ, Kotter MRN. A comparison of radiological descriptions of spinal cord compression with quantitative measures, and their role in non-specialist clinical management. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219380. [PMID: 31329621 PMCID: PMC6645712 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is gold-standard for investigating Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM), a disabling disease triggered by compression of the spinal cord following degenerative changes of adjacent structures. Quantifiable compression correlates poorly with disease and language describing compression in radiological reports is un-standardised. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVES 1) Identify terminology in radiological reporting of cord compression and elucidate relationships between language and quantitative measures 2) Evaluate language's ability to distinguish myelopathic from asymptomatic compression 3) Explore correlations between quantitative or qualitative features and symptom severity 4) Investigate the influence of quantitative and qualitative measures on surgical referrals. METHODS From all cervical spine MRIs conducted during one year at a tertiary centre (N = 1123), 166 patients had reported cord compression. For each spinal level deemed compressed by radiologists (N = 218), four quantitative measurements were calculated: 'Maximum Canal Compromise (MCC); 'Maximum Spinal Cord Compression' (MSCC); 'Spinal Canal Occupation Ratio' (SCOR) and 'Compression Ratio' (CR). These were compared to associated radiological reporting terminology. RESULTS 1) Terminology in radiological reports was varied. Objective measures of compromise correlated poorly with language. "Compressed" was used for more severe cord compromise as measured by MCC (p<0.001), MSCC (p<0.001), and CR (p = 0.002). 2) Greater compromise was seen in cords with a myelopathy diagnosis across MCC (p<0.001); MSCC (p = 0.002) and CR (p<0.001). "Compress" (p<0.001) and "Flatten" (p<0.001) were used more commonly for myelopathy-diagnosis levels. 3) Measurements of cord compromise (MCC: p = 0.304; MSCC: p = 0.217; SCOR: p = 0.503; CR: p = 0.256) and descriptive terms (p = 0.591) did not correlate with i-mJOA score. 4) The only variables affecting spinal surgery referral were increased MSCC (p = 0.001) and use of 'Compressed' (p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS Radiological reporting in DCM is variable and language is not fully predictive of the degree of quantitative cord compression. Additionally, terminology may influence surgical referrals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bryn Hilton
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin M. Davies
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Aria Nouri
- Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter J. Hutchinson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J. Scoffings
- Department of Radiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Mannion
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rikin Trivedi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Timofeev
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - John R. Crawford
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas Hay
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rodney J. Laing
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark R. N. Kotter
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Welcome Trust MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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29
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Reynolds BB, By S, Weinberg QR, Witt AA, Newton AT, Feiler HR, Ramkorun B, Clayton DB, Couture P, Martus JE, Adams M, Wellons JC, Smith SA, Bhatia A. Quantification of DTI in the Pediatric Spinal Cord: Application to Clinical Evaluation in a Healthy Patient Population. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019; 40:1236-1241. [PMID: 31196859 PMCID: PMC7048550 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of the study is to characterize diffusion tensor imaging indices in the developing spinal cord, evaluating differences based on age and cord region. Describing the progression of DTI indices in the pediatric cord increases our understanding of spinal cord development. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on DTI acquired in 121 pediatric patients (mean, 8.6 years; range, 0.3-18.0 years) at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt from 2017 to 2018. Diffusion-weighted images (15 directions; b = 750 s/mm2; slice thickness, 5 mm; in-plane resolution, 1.0 × 1.0 mm2) were acquired on a 3T scanner in the cervicothoracic and/or thoracolumbar cord. Manual whole-cord segmentation was performed. Images were masked and further segmented into cervical, upper thoracic, thoracolumbar, and conus regions. Analyses of covariance were performed for each DTI-derived index to investigate how age affects diffusion across cord regions, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated across age for each derived index and region. Post hoc testing was performed to analyze regional differences. RESULTS Analyses of covariance revealed significant correlations of age with axial diffusivity, mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy (all, P < .001). There were also significant differences among cord regions for axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy (all, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS This research demonstrates that diffusion evolves in the pediatric spinal cord during development, dependent on both cord region and the diffusion index of interest. Future research could investigate how diffusion may be affected by common pediatric spinal pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- B B Reynolds
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - S By
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Q R Weinberg
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - A A Witt
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - A T Newton
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.).,Pediatrics (A.T.N.).,Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - H R Feiler
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - B Ramkorun
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - P Couture
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.)
| | - J E Martus
- Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics (J.E.M.), Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - J C Wellons
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.).,Department of Ophthalmology (S.A.S., J.C.W. III), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - S A Smith
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.).,Department of Biomedical Engineering (S.A.S.).,Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.,Department of Ophthalmology (S.A.S., J.C.W. III), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - A Bhatia
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.) .,Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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Katoh H, Yokota K, Fehlings MG. Regeneration of Spinal Cord Connectivity Through Stem Cell Transplantation and Biomaterial Scaffolds. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:248. [PMID: 31244609 PMCID: PMC6563678 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). Advances in post-trauma management and intensive rehabilitation have significantly improved the prognosis of SCI and converted what was once an “ailment not to be treated” into a survivable injury, but the cold hard fact is that we still do not have a validated method to improve the paralysis of SCI. The irreversible functional impairment of the injured spinal cord is caused by the disruption of neuronal transduction across the injury lesion, which is brought about by demyelination, axonal degeneration, and loss of synapses. Furthermore, refractory substrates generated in the injured spinal cord inhibit spontaneous recovery. The discovery of the regenerative capability of central nervous system neurons in the proper environment and the verification of neural stem cells in the spinal cord once incited hope that a cure for SCI was on the horizon. That hope was gradually replaced with mounting frustration when neuroprotective drugs, cell transplantation, and strategies to enhance remyelination, axonal regeneration, and neuronal plasticity demonstrated significant improvement in animal models of SCI but did not translate into a cure in human patients. However, recent advances in SCI research have greatly increased our understanding of the fundamental processes underlying SCI and fostered increasing optimism that these multiple treatment strategies are finally coming together to bring about a new era in which we will be able to propose encouraging therapies that will lead to appreciable improvements in SCI patients. In this review, we outline the pathophysiology of SCI that makes the spinal cord refractory to regeneration and discuss the research that has been done with cell replacement and biomaterial implantation strategies, both by itself and as a combined treatment. We will focus on the capacity of these strategies to facilitate the regeneration of neural connectivity necessary to achieve meaningful functional recovery after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Katoh
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Surgical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tokai University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuya Yokota
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Spine Program, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Segmental differences of cervical spinal cord motion: advancing from confounders to a diagnostic tool. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7415. [PMID: 31092891 PMCID: PMC6520379 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43908-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased cranio-caudal spinal cord motion is associated with clinical impairment in degenerative cervical myelopathy. However, whether spinal cord motion holds potential as a neuroimaging biomarker requires further validation. Different confounders (i.e. subject characteristics, methodological problems such as phase drift, etc.) on spinal cord motion readouts have to be considered. Twenty-two healthy subjects underwent phase contrast MRI, a subset of subjects (N = 9) had repeated scans. Parameters of interest included amplitude of velocity signal, maximum cranial respectively maximum caudal velocity, displacement (=area under curve of the velocity signal). The cervical spinal cord showed pulse synchronic oscillatory motions with significant differences in all readouts across cervical segments, with a maximum at C5. The Inter-rater reliability was excellent for all readouts. The test-retest reliability was excellent for all parameters at C2 to C6, but not for maximum cranial velocity at C6 and all readouts at C7. Spinal cord motion was correlated with spinal canal size, heart rate and body size. This is the first study to propose a standardized MRI measurement of spinal cord motion for further clinical implementation based on satisfactory phase drift correction and excellent reliability. Understanding the influence of confounders (e.g. structural conditions of the spine) is essential for introducing cord motion into the diagnostic work up.
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Papinutto N, Henry RG. Evaluation of Intra- and Interscanner Reliability of MRI Protocols for Spinal Cord Gray Matter and Total Cross-Sectional Area Measurements. J Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 49:1078-1090. [PMID: 30198209 PMCID: PMC6620602 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vivo quantification of spinal cord atrophy in neurological diseases using MRI has attracted increasing attention. PURPOSE To compare across different platforms the most promising imaging techniques to assess human spinal cord atrophy. STUDY TYPE Test/retest multiscanner study. SUBJECTS Twelve healthy volunteers. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE Three different 3T scanner platforms (Siemens, Philips, and GE) / optimized phase sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR), T1 -weighted (T1 -w), and T2 *-weighted (T2 *-w) protocols. ASSESSMENT On all images acquired, two operators assessed contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM), and between WM and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); one experienced operator measured total cross-sectional area (TCA) and GM area using JIM and the Spinal Cord Toolbox (SCT). STATISTICAL TESTS Coefficient of variation (COV); intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); mixed effect models; analysis of variance (t-tests). RESULTS For all the scanners, GM/WM CNR was higher for PSIR than T2 *-w (P < 0.0001) and WM/CSF CNR for T1 -w was the highest (P < 0.0001). For TCA, using JIM, median COVs were smaller than 1.5% and ICC >0.95, while using SCT, median COVs were in the range 2.2-2.75% and ICC 0.79-0.95. For GM, despite some failures of the automatic segmentation, median COVs using SCT on T2 *-w were smaller than using JIM manual PSIR segmentations. In the mixed effect models, the subject was always the main contributor to the variance of area measurements and scanner often contributed to TCA variance (P < 0.05). Using JIM, TCA measurements on T2 *-w were different than on PSIR (P = 0.0021) and T1 -w (P = 0.0018), while using SCT, no notable differences were found between T1 -w and T2 *-w (P = 0.18). JIM and SCT-derived TCA were not different on T1 -w (P = 0.66), while they were different for T2 *-w (P < 0.0001). GM area derived using SCT/T2 *-w versus JIM/PSIR were different (P < 0.0001). DATA CONCLUSION The present work sets reference values for the magnitude of the contribution of different effects to cord area measurement intra- and interscanner variability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 4 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:1078-1090.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Papinutto
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California San Francisco94158San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Roland G. Henry
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California San Francisco94158San FranciscoCAUSA
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McCoy DB, Dupont SM, Gros C, Cohen-Adad J, Huie RJ, Ferguson A, Duong-Fernandez X, Thomas LH, Singh V, Narvid J, Pascual L, Kyritsis N, Beattie MS, Bresnahan JC, Dhall S, Whetstone W, Talbott JF. Convolutional Neural Network-Based Automated Segmentation of the Spinal Cord and Contusion Injury: Deep Learning Biomarker Correlates of Motor Impairment in Acute Spinal Cord Injury. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019; 40:737-744. [PMID: 30923086 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Our aim was to use 2D convolutional neural networks for automatic segmentation of the spinal cord and traumatic contusion injury from axial T2-weighted MR imaging in a cohort of patients with acute spinal cord injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-seven patients who underwent 3T MR imaging within 24 hours of spinal cord injury were included. We developed an image-analysis pipeline integrating 2D convolutional neural networks for whole spinal cord and intramedullary spinal cord lesion segmentation. Linear mixed modeling was used to compare test segmentation results between our spinal cord injury convolutional neural network (Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center segmentation) and current state-of-the-art methods. Volumes of segmented lesions were then used in a linear regression analysis to determine associations with motor scores. RESULTS Compared with manual labeling, the average test set Dice coefficient for the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center segmentation model was 0.93 for spinal cord segmentation versus 0.80 for PropSeg and 0.90 for DeepSeg (both components of the Spinal Cord Toolbox). Linear mixed modeling showed a significant difference between Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center segmentation compared with PropSeg (P < .001) and DeepSeg (P < .05). Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center segmentation showed significantly better adaptability to damaged areas compared with PropSeg (P < .001) and DeepSeg (P < .02). The contusion injury volumes based on automated segmentation were significantly associated with motor scores at admission (P = .002) and discharge (P = .009). CONCLUSIONS Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center segmentation of the spinal cord compares favorably with available segmentation tools in a population with acute spinal cord injury. Volumes of injury derived from automated lesion segmentation with Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center segmentation correlate with measures of motor impairment in the acute phase. Targeted convolutional neural network training in acute spinal cord injury enhances algorithm performance for this patient population and provides clinically relevant metrics of cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B McCoy
- From the Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging (D.B.M., S.M.D., J.N., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - S M Dupont
- From the Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging (D.B.M., S.M.D., J.N., J.F.T.)
| | - C Gros
- NeuroPoly Lab (C.G., J.C.-A.), Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - J Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab (C.G., J.C.-A.), Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - R J Huie
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - A Ferguson
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - X Duong-Fernandez
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - L H Thomas
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - V Singh
- Departments of Neurology (V.S.)
| | - J Narvid
- From the Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging (D.B.M., S.M.D., J.N., J.F.T.)
| | - L Pascual
- Orthopedic Surgery (L.P.), Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - N Kyritsis
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - M S Beattie
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - J C Bresnahan
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - S Dhall
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - W Whetstone
- Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.).,Brain and Spinal Injury Center (D.B.M., R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W.)
| | - J F Talbott
- From the Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging (D.B.M., S.M.D., J.N., J.F.T.) .,Neurological Surgery (R.J.H., A.F., X.D.-F., L.H.T., N.K., M.S.B., J.C.B., S.D., W.W., J.F.T.)
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David G, Seif M, Huber E, Hupp M, Rosner J, Dietz V, Weiskopf N, Mohammadi S, Freund P. In vivo evidence of remote neural degeneration in the lumbar enlargement after cervical injury. Neurology 2019; 92:e1367-e1377. [PMID: 30770423 PMCID: PMC6511094 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000007137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize remote secondary neurodegeneration of spinal tracts and neurons below a cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and its relation to the severity of injury, the integrity of efferent and afferent pathways, and clinical impairment. METHODS A comprehensive high-resolution MRI protocol was acquired in 17 traumatic cervical SCI patients and 14 controls at 3T. At the cervical lesion, a sagittal T2-weighted scan provided information on the width of preserved midsagittal tissue bridges. In the lumbar enlargement, high-resolution T2*-weighted and diffusion-weighted scans were used to calculate tissue-specific cross-sectional areas and diffusion indices, respectively. Regression analyses determined associations between MRI readouts and the electrophysiologic and clinical measures. RESULTS At the cervical injury level, preserved midsagittal tissue bridges were present in the majority of patients. In the lumbar enlargement, neurodegeneration-in terms of macrostructural and microstructural MRI changes-was evident in the white matter and ventral and dorsal horns. Patients with thinner midsagittal tissue bridges had smaller ventral horn area, higher radial diffusivity in the gray matter, smaller motor evoked potential amplitude from the lower extremities, and lower motor score. In addition, smaller width of midsagittal tissue bridges was also associated with smaller tibialis sensory evoked potential amplitude and lower light-touch score. CONCLUSIONS This study shows extensive tissue-specific cord pathology in infralesional spinal networks following cervical SCI, its magnitude relating to lesion severity, electrophysiologic integrity, and clinical impairment of the lower extremity. The clinical eloquence of remote neurodegenerative changes speaks to the application of neuroimaging biomarkers in diagnostic workup and planning of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely David
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maryam Seif
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eveline Huber
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Hupp
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Rosner
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Volker Dietz
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Siawoosh Mohammadi
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Freund
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist (G.D., M.S., E.H., M.H., J.R., V.D., P.F.), University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (N.W., S.M., P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurophysics (M.S., N.W., P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig; and Department of Systems Neuroscience (S.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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Yung A, Mattucci S, Bohnet B, Liu J, Fournier C, Tetzlaff W, Kozlowski P, Oxland T. Diffusion tensor imaging shows mechanism-specific differences in injury pattern and progression in rat models of acute spinal cord injury. Neuroimage 2018; 186:43-55. [PMID: 30409758 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.10.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigate the ability of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to distinguish between three experimental rat models of spinal cord injury mechanism - contusion, dislocation, and distraction. Ex vivo DTI scans were performed on cord specimens that were preserved at different time points of the acute injury (3 hr, 24 hr, and 7 days post-injury) across all three injury mechanisms. White matter was classified as abnormal if their DTI metric was substantially different from regional values measured from a set of uninjured controls, thus allowing generation of binary "white matter damage maps" which categorizes each pixel in the DTI image as "normal" or "damaged". Damage classification was most robust using thresholds in the longitudinal diffusivity, which supports previous studies that show that longitudinal diffusivity is the most robust DTI metric in depicting damage in SCI. Furthermore, the spatial damage patterns from all subjects in the same group were consolidated into a "damage occurrence ratio map", which illustrates an average damage shape that characterizes the injury mechanism. Our analysis has yielded a dataset which highlights the differences in injury pattern due to the initial mode of mechanical injury. For example, contusion produced an initial injury that emanated radially outward from the central canal, with subsequent damage along the caudal corticospinal tract and rostral gracile fasciculus; dislocation injuries showed a high level of involvement in the lateral and ventral white matter which became less apparent by 7 days post-injury, and distraction injuries were found to be less focal and more distributed rostrocaudally. This work represents a first step in adopting the use of the primary injury mechanism as a clinical prognostic factor in SCI, which may help to inform the trialing of existing neuroprotective treatment candidates, the development of new therapies as well as personalize the management of SCI for the individual patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Yung
- University of British Columbia MRI Research Centre, 2221, Wesbrook Mall, M10 Purdy Pavilion, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada.
| | | | - Barry Bohnet
- University of British Columbia MRI Research Centre, 2221, Wesbrook Mall, M10 Purdy Pavilion, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada.
| | - Jie Liu
- ICORD, 818 W. 10th Ave., Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
| | | | | | - Piotr Kozlowski
- University of British Columbia MRI Research Centre, 2221, Wesbrook Mall, M10 Purdy Pavilion, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada; ICORD, 818 W. 10th Ave., Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
| | - Thomas Oxland
- ICORD, 818 W. 10th Ave., Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
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Combès B, Monteau L, Bannier E, Callot V, Labauge P, Ayrignac X, Carra Dallière C, Pelletier J, Maarouf A, de Seze J, Collongues N, Barillot C, Edan G, Ferré JC, Kerbrat A. Measurement of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) from cervical spinal cord: Multicenter reproducibility and variability. J Magn Reson Imaging 2018; 49:1777-1785. [PMID: 30350328 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessing the multicenter variability of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) measurements in the spinal cord of healthy controls is the first step toward investigating its clinical use as a biomarker. PURPOSE To analyze the between-session, between-participant, and between-scanner variability of MTR measurements in automatically extracted regions of interest in the cervical cord of healthy controls. STUDY TYPE Control study. POPULATION Forty-four participants, distributed across five MRI scanners (all from the same manufacturer). Ten participants were scanned twice in the same scanner, and 10 others were scanned twice in two different scanners. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3D-gradient echo images, centered on C5, without and with magnetization transfer prepulse at 3T. ASSESSMENT We calculated the mean MTR for different vertebral levels in the whole cord (WC), as well as in the white matter and gray matter, and determined the between-session, between-participant, and between-scanner variabilities. STATISTICAL TESTS Coefficients of variation and intraclass correlations (ICCs) for the different variabilities and their associated confidence intervals. RESULTS The MTR measurements for Levels C4-C6 (near the slab center) exhibited a mean value in WC of 34.6 pu and a pooled standard deviation of 0.9 pu. The between-session coefficient of variation was estimated as 2.3% (ICC = 0.63), the between-participant coefficient as 1.6% (ICC = 0.32), and the between-scanner coefficient as 0.7% (ICC = 0.05). The resulting aggregate coefficient of variation was 2.9%, which was sufficiently low to detect an MTR reduction of 1 pu between groups of about 45 participants (Type-I error rate: 0.05; Type-II error rate: 0.10). DATA CONCLUSION The good between-scanner reproducibility and low overall variability in cervical spinal cord MTR measurements in a control population might pave the way for multicenter analyses in various neurological diseases with moderate cohort sizes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:1777-1785.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Combès
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, Visages, U1128, France
| | - Laureline Monteau
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, Visages, U1128, France.,CHU Rennes, Radiology Department, F-35033, Rennes, France
| | - Elise Bannier
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, Visages, U1128, France.,CHU Rennes, Radiology Department, F-35033, Rennes, France
| | - Virginie Callot
- AP-HM, Pôle d'imagerie médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7339, CRMBM, Marseille, France
| | | | | | | | - Jean Pelletier
- AP-HM, Pôle d'imagerie médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France.,AP-HM, CHU Timone, Pole de Neurosciences Cliniques, Department of Neurology, Marseille, France
| | - Adil Maarouf
- AP-HM, Pôle d'imagerie médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France.,AP-HM, CHU Timone, Pole de Neurosciences Cliniques, Department of Neurology, Marseille, France
| | - Jerome de Seze
- Strasbourg University Hospital, France; CIC Strasbourg INSERM 1434, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nicolas Collongues
- Strasbourg University Hospital, France; CIC Strasbourg INSERM 1434, Strasbourg, France
| | - Christian Barillot
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, Visages, U1128, France
| | - Gilles Edan
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, Visages, U1128, France.,Neurology Department, Rennes University Hospital, France
| | - Jean Christophe Ferré
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, Visages, U1128, France.,CHU Rennes, Radiology Department, F-35033, Rennes, France
| | - Anne Kerbrat
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, Visages, U1128, France.,Neurology Department, Rennes University Hospital, France
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Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Case-control. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to understand the role of high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) in identifying regional cord volume loss in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Preliminary studies suggest that compression of the ventral region of the cord may contribute disproportionately to CSM symptomology; however, tract-specific data are lacking in the CSM population. The current study is the first to use 3T MR imaging (MRI) images of CSM patients to determine specific volume loss at the level of detail of individual descending white matter tracts. METHODS Twelve patients with CSM and 14 age-matched were enrolled prospectively and underwent 3-Tesla MRI of the cervical spine. Using the high-resolution images of the spinal cord, straightening and alignment with a template was performed and specific spinal cord tract volumes were measured using Spinal Cord Tool-box version 3.0.7. Modified Japanese orthopedic association (mJOA) and Nurick disability scores were collected in a prospective manner and were analyzed in relation to descending spinal tract volumes. RESULTS Having CSM was predicted by anterior/posterior diameter, eccentricity of the cord [odds ratio (OR) 0.000000621, P = 0.004], ventral reticulospinal tract volume (OR 1.167, P = 0.063), lateral corticospinal tract volume (OR 1.034, P = 0.046), rubrospinal tract volume (OR 1.072, P = 0.011), and ventrolateral reticulospinal tract volume (OR 1.474, P = 0.005) on single variable logistic regression. Single variable linear regression showed decreases in anterior/posterior spinal cord diameter (P = 0.022), ventral reticulospinal tract volumes (P = 0.007), and ventrolateral reticulospinal tract volumes (P = 0.017) to significantly predict worsening mJOA scores. Similarly, decreases in ventral reticulospinal tract volumes significantly predicted increasing Nurick scores (P = 0.039). CONCLUSION High-resolution 3T MRI can detect tract-specific volume loss in descending spinal cord tracts in CSM patients. Anterior/posterior spinal cord diameter, ventral reticulospinal tract, ventrolateral reticulospinal tract, lateral corticospinal tract, and rubrospinal tract volume loss are associated with CSM symptoms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2.
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Seif M, Curt A, Thompson AJ, Grabher P, Weiskopf N, Freund P. Quantitative MRI of rostral spinal cord and brain regions is predictive of functional recovery in acute spinal cord injury. Neuroimage Clin 2018; 20:556-563. [PMID: 30175042 PMCID: PMC6115607 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Objective To reveal the immediate extent of trauma-induced neurodegenerative changes rostral to the level of lesion and determine the predictive clinical value of quantitative MRI (qMRI) following acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Twenty-four acute SCI patients and 23 healthy controls underwent a high-resolution T1-weighted protocol. Eighteen of those patients and 20 of controls additionally underwent a multi-parameter mapping (MPM) MRI protocol sensitive to the content of tissue structure, including myelin and iron. Patients were examined clinically at baseline, 2, 6, 12, and 24 months post-SCI. We assessed volume and microstructural changes in the spinal cord and brain using T1-weighted MRI, magnetization transfer (MT), longitudinal relaxation rate (R1), and effective transverse relaxation rate (R2*) maps. Regression analysis determined associations between acute qMRI parameters and recovery. Results At baseline, cord area and its anterior-posterior width were decreased in patients, whereas MT, R1, and R2* parameters remained unchanged in the cord. Within the cerebellum, volume decrease was paralleled by increases of MT and R2* parameters. Early grey matter changes were observed within the primary motor cortex and limbic system. Importantly, early volume and microstructural changes of the cord and cerebellum predicted functional recovery following injury. Conclusions Neurodegenerative changes rostral to the level of lesion occur early in SCI, with varying temporal and spatial dynamics. Early qMRI markers of spinal cord and cerebellum are predictive of functional recovery. These neuroimaging biomarkers may supplement clinical assessments and provide insights into the potential of therapeutic interventions to enhance neural plasticity.
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Key Words
- APW, anterior posterior width
- Acute micro-structural changes
- Brain and spinal cord atrophy
- ISNCSCI, international standards for the neurological classification of spinal cord injury
- LRW, left right width
- MPM, multi-parameter mapping
- MT, magnetization transfer
- PD*, effective proton density
- Quantitative neuroimaging
- R1, longitudinal relaxation rate
- R2*, effective transverse relaxation rate
- ROI, region of interest
- SCA, spinal cord area
- SCI, spinal cord injury
- SCIM, spinal cord independence measure
- Spinal cord injury
- VBCT, voxel based cortical thickness
- VBM, voxel based morphometry
- VBQ, voxel based quantification
- Voxel-based morphometry and quantification
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alan J Thompson
- Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Patrick Grabher
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
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39
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Spotlight on Neurotrauma Research in Canada's Leading Academic Centers. J Neurotrauma 2018; 35:1986-2004. [PMID: 30074875 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.29017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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40
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Witiw CD, Mathieu F, Nouri A, Fehlings MG. Clinico-Radiographic Discordance: An Evidence-Based Commentary on the Management of Degenerative Cervical Spinal Cord Compression in the Absence of Symptoms or With Only Mild Symptoms of Myelopathy. Global Spine J 2018; 8:527-534. [PMID: 30258760 PMCID: PMC6149046 DOI: 10.1177/2192568217745519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Narrative review with commentary. OBJECTIVES The growing use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often leaves clinicians faced with scenarios where imaging findings are inconsistent with the clinical picture. This is particularly relevant for degenerative cervical spinal cord compression (CSCC). In this article, we provide a focused narrative literature review to address whether (1) surgery should be offered to asymptomatic patients with CSCC and (2) should MRI spinal cord signal changes influence clinical decisions for a patient with mild myelopathy from CSCC? METHODS Illustrative cases are presented with expert commentary which is supplemented by a focused literature review. RESULTS The literature suggests that CSCC from degenerative pathology is a common incidental radiographic finding. For those without symptoms of myelopathy, the short-term risk of progression is low. There is a lack of evidence to support surgery for asymptomatic individuals with CSCC who have no risk factors for progression. For these patients, the authors suggest non-operative management that includes education on the symptoms of myelopathy, clinical follow-up within 6 to 12 months, and avoidance of high-risk activities. Conversely, symptomatic patients have a notable risk of progression. Surgical intervention improves neurological function and quality of life regardless of severity. The authors support surgery as an option for all patients with mild myelopathy who are appropriate operative candidates. Intramedullary signal change on MRI has not been shown to reliably predict progression. CONCLUSIONS While MRI technologies are under evolution, we advise that surgical decisions for patients with CSCC should rely on clinical assessment and not imaging findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aria Nouri
- Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Michael G. Fehlings, Toronto Western Hospital, 399
Bathurst Street, 4WW-449, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.
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41
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Martin AR, De Leener B, Cohen-Adad J, Kalsi-Ryan S, Cadotte DW, Wilson JR, Tetreault L, Nouri A, Crawley A, Mikulis DJ, Ginsberg H, Massicotte EM, Fehlings MG. Monitoring for myelopathic progression with multiparametric quantitative MRI. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195733. [PMID: 29664964 PMCID: PMC5903654 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with mild degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) are often managed non-operatively, and surgery is recommended if neurological progression occurs. However, detection of progression is often subjective. Quantitative MRI (qMRI) directly measures spinal cord (SC) tissue changes, detecting axonal injury, demyelination, and atrophy. This longitudinal study compared multiparametric qMRI with clinical measures of progression in non-operative DCM patients. Methods 26 DCM patients were followed. Clinical data included modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) and additional assessments. 3T qMRI data included cross sectional area, diffusion fractional anisotropy, magnetization transfer ratio, and T2*-weighted white/grey matter signal ratio, extracted from the compressed SC and above/below. Progression was defined as 1) patients’ subjective impression, 2) 2-point mJOA decrease, 3) ≥3 clinical measures worsening ≥5%, 4) increased compression on MRI, or 5) ≥1 of 10 qMRI measures or composite score worsening (p < 0.004, corrected). Results Follow-up (13.5 ± 4.9 months) included mJOA in all 26 patients, MRI in 25, and clinical/qMRI in 22. 42.3% reported subjective worsening, compared with mJOA (11.5%), MRI (20%), comprehensive assessments (54.6%), and qMRI (68.2%). Relative to subjective worsening, qMRI showed 100% sensitivity and 53.3% specificity compared with comprehensive assessments (75%, 60%), mJOA (27.3%, 100%), and MRI (18.2%, 81.3%). A decision-making algorithm incorporating qMRI identified progression and recommended surgery for 11 subjects (42.3%). Conclusions Quantitative MRI shows high sensitivity to detect myelopathic progression. Our results suggest that neuroplasticity and behavioural adaptation may mask progressive SC tissue injury. qMRI appears to be a useful method to confirm subtle myelopathic progression in individual patients, representing an advance toward clinical translation of qMRI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Aria Nouri
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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42
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Martin AR, De Leener B, Cohen-Adad J, Cadotte DW, Nouri A, Wilson JR, Tetreault L, Crawley AP, Mikulis DJ, Ginsberg H, Fehlings MG. Can microstructural MRI detect subclinical tissue injury in subjects with asymptomatic cervical spinal cord compression? A prospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e019809. [PMID: 29654015 PMCID: PMC5905727 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) involves extrinsic spinal cord compression causing tissue injury and neurological dysfunction. Asymptomatic spinal cord compression (ASCC) is more common, but its significance is poorly defined. This study investigates if: (1) ASCC can be automatically diagnosed using spinal cord shape analysis; (2) multiparametric quantitative MRI can detect similar spinal cord tissue injury as previously observed in DCM. DESIGN Prospective observational longitudinal cohort study. SETTING Single centre, tertiary care and research institution. PARTICIPANTS 40 neurologically intact subjects (19 female, 21 male) divided into groups with and without ASCC. INTERVENTIONS None. OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical assessments: modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and physical examination. 3T MRI assessments: automated morphometric analysis compared with consensus ratings of spinal cord compression, and measures of tissue injury: cross-sectional area, diffusion fractional anisotropy, magnetisation transfer ratio and T2*-weighted imaging white to grey matter signal intensity ratio (T2*WI WM/GM) extracted from rostral (C1-3), caudal (C6-7) and maximally compressed levels. RESULTS ASCC was present in 20/40 subjects. Diagnosis with automated shape analysis showed area under the curve >97%. Five MRI metrics showed differences suggestive of tissue injury in ASCC compared with uncompressed subjects (p<0.05), while a composite of all 10 measures (average of z scores) showed highly significant differences (p=0.002). At follow-up (median 21 months), two ASCC subjects developed DCM. CONCLUSIONS ASCC appears to be common and can be accurately and objectively diagnosed with automated morphometric analysis. Quantitative MRI appears to detect subclinical tissue injury in ASCC prior to the onset of neurological symptoms and signs. These findings require further validation, but offer the intriguing possibility of presymptomatic diagnosis and treatment of DCM and other spinal pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan R Martin
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin De Leener
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - David W Cadotte
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Aria Nouri
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jefferson R Wilson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lindsay Tetreault
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Adrian P Crawley
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David J Mikulis
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Howard Ginsberg
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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43
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Cohen-Adad J. Microstructural imaging in the spinal cord and validation strategies. Neuroimage 2018; 182:169-183. [PMID: 29635029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo histology using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a newly emerging research field that aims to non-invasively characterize tissue microstructure. The implications of in vivo histology are many, from discovering novel biomarkers to studying human development, to providing tools for disease diagnosis and monitoring the effects of novel treatments on tissue. This review focuses on quantitative MRI (qMRI) techniques that are used to map spinal cord microstructure. Opening with a rationale for non-invasive imaging of the spinal cord, this article continues with a brief overview of the existing MRI techniques for axon and myelin imaging, followed by the specific challenges and potential solutions for acquiring and processing such data. The final part of this review focuses on histological validation, with suggested tissue preparation, acquisition and processing protocols for large-scale microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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44
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Hori M, Hagiwara A, Fukunaga I, Ueda R, Kamiya K, Suzuki Y, Liu W, Murata K, Takamura T, Hamasaki N, Irie R, Kamagata K, Kumamaru KK, Suzuki M, Aoki S. Application of Quantitative Microstructural MR Imaging with Atlas-based Analysis for the Spinal Cord in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5213. [PMID: 29581458 PMCID: PMC5979956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23527-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mapping of MR fiber g-ratio, which is the ratio of the diameter of the axon to the diameter of the neuronal fiber, is introduced in this article. We investigated the MR fiber g-ratio, the axon volume fraction (AVF) and the myelin volume fraction (MVF) to evaluate microstructural changes in the spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) in vivo, using atlas-based analysis. We used diffusion MRI data acquired with a new simultaneous multi-slice accelerated readout-segmented echo planar imaging sequence for diffusion analysis for AVF calculation and magnetization transfer saturation imaging for MVF calculation. The AVFs of fasciculus gracilis in the affected side spinal cord, fasciculus cuneatus and lateral corticospinal tracts (LSCT) in the affected and unaffected side spinal cord were significantly lower (P = 0.019, 0.001, 0019, 0.000, and 0.002, respectively) than those of normal controls. No difference was found in the MVFs. The fiber g-ratio of LSCT was significantly lower (P = 0.040) in the affected side spinal cords than in the normal controls. The pathological microstructural changes in the spinal cord in patients with CSM, presumably partial axonal degenerations with preserved myelin. This technique has the potential to be a clinical biomarker in patients with CSM in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Hori
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Akifumi Hagiwara
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Issei Fukunaga
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Ueda
- Health Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kouhei Kamiya
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Suzuki
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wei Liu
- Siemens Shenzhen Magnetic Resonance Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Tomohiro Takamura
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nozomi Hamasaki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Irie
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Kamagata
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Michimasa Suzuki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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45
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PAM50: Unbiased multimodal template of the brainstem and spinal cord aligned with the ICBM152 space. Neuroimage 2018; 165:170-179. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 09/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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46
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Ganau M, Holly LT, Mizuno J, Fehlings MG. Future Directions and New Technologies for the Management of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2018; 29:185-193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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47
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Martin AR, Tadokoro N, Tetreault L, Arocho-Quinones EV, Budde MD, Kurpad SN, Fehlings MG. Imaging Evaluation of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2018; 29:33-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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48
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Gros C, De Leener B, Dupont SM, Martin AR, Fehlings MG, Bakshi R, Tummala S, Auclair V, McLaren DG, Callot V, Cohen-Adad J, Sdika M. Automatic spinal cord localization, robust to MRI contrasts using global curve optimization. Med Image Anal 2017; 44:215-227. [PMID: 29288983 DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
During the last two decades, MRI has been increasingly used for providing valuable quantitative information about spinal cord morphometry, such as quantification of the spinal cord atrophy in various diseases. However, despite the significant improvement of MR sequences adapted to the spinal cord, automatic image processing tools for spinal cord MRI data are not yet as developed as for the brain. There is nonetheless great interest in fully automatic and fast processing methods to be able to propose quantitative analysis pipelines on large datasets without user bias. The first step of most of these analysis pipelines is to detect the spinal cord, which is challenging to achieve automatically across the broad range of MRI contrasts, field of view, resolutions and pathologies. In this paper, a fully automated, robust and fast method for detecting the spinal cord centerline on MRI volumes is introduced. The algorithm uses a global optimization scheme that attempts to strike a balance between a probabilistic localization map of the spinal cord center point and the overall spatial consistency of the spinal cord centerline (i.e. the rostro-caudal continuity of the spinal cord). Additionally, a new post-processing feature, which aims to automatically split brain and spine regions is introduced, to be able to detect a consistent spinal cord centerline, independently from the field of view. We present data on the validation of the proposed algorithm, known as "OptiC", from a large dataset involving 20 centers, 4 contrasts (T2-weighted n = 287, T1-weighted n = 120, T2∗-weighted n = 307, diffusion-weighted n = 90), 501 subjects including 173 patients with a variety of neurologic diseases. Validation involved the gold-standard centerline coverage, the mean square error between the true and predicted centerlines and the ability to accurately separate brain and spine regions. Overall, OptiC was able to cover 98.77% of the gold-standard centerline, with a mean square error of 1.02 mm. OptiC achieved superior results compared to a state-of-the-art spinal cord localization technique based on the Hough transform, especially on pathological cases with an averaged mean square error of 1.08 mm vs. 13.16 mm (Wilcoxon signed-rank test p-value < .01). Images containing brain regions were identified with a 99% precision, on which brain and spine regions were separated with a distance error of 9.37 mm compared to ground-truth. Validation results on a challenging dataset suggest that OptiC could reliably be used for subsequent quantitative analyses tasks, opening the door to more robust analysis on pathological cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charley Gros
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin De Leener
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sara M Dupont
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Allan R Martin
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rohit Bakshi
- Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Subhash Tummala
- Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Virginie Callot
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France; APHM, Hôpital de la Timone, Pôle d'imagerie médicale, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michaël Sdika
- Univ. Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UJM-Saint Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220, U1206, F-69100, Lyon, France.
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Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injuries have a tremendous impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole. Substantial heterogeneity in the patient population, their presentation and underlying pathophysiology has sparked debates along the care spectrum from initial assessment to definitive treatment. This article reviews spinal cord injury (SCI) management followed by a discussion of the salient controversies in the field. Current care practices modeled on the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons joint section guidelines are highlighted including key recommendations regarding immobilization, avoidance of hypotension, early International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI examination and intensive care unit treatment. From a diagnostic perspective, the evolving roles of CT, MRI, and leading-edge microstructural MRI techniques are discussed with descriptions of the relevant clinical literature for each. Controversies in management relevant to clinicians including the timing of surgical decompression, methylprednisolone administration, blood pressure augmentation, intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring, and the role of surgery in central cord syndrome and pediatric SCI are also covered in detail. Finally, the article concludes with a reflection on clinical trial design tailored to the heterogeneous population of individuals with SCI.
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50
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Martin AR, De Leener B, Cohen-Adad J, Cadotte DW, Kalsi-Ryan S, Lange SF, Tetreault L, Nouri A, Crawley A, Mikulis DJ, Ginsberg H, Fehlings MG. A Novel MRI Biomarker of Spinal Cord White Matter Injury: T2*-Weighted White Matter to Gray Matter Signal Intensity Ratio. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2017; 38:1266-1273. [PMID: 28428212 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a5162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE T2*-weighted imaging provides sharp contrast between spinal cord GM and WM, allowing their segmentation and cross-sectional area measurement. Injured WM demonstrates T2*WI hyperintensity but requires normalization for quantitative use. We introduce T2*WI WM/GM signal-intensity ratio and compare it against cross-sectional area, the DTI metric fractional anisotropy, and magnetization transfer ratio in degenerative cervical myelopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-eight patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy and 40 healthy subjects underwent 3T MR imaging, covering C1-C7. Metrics were automatically extracted at maximally compressed and uncompressed rostral/caudal levels. Normalized metrics were compared with t tests, area under the curve, and logistic regression. Relationships with clinical measures were analyzed by using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression. RESULTS The maximally compressed level cross-sectional area demonstrated superior differences (P = 1 × 10-13), diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.890), and univariate correlation with the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score (0.66). T2*WI WM/GM showed strong differences (rostral: P = 8 × 10-7; maximally compressed level: P = 1 × 10-11; caudal: P = 1 × 10-4), correlations (modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score; rostral: -0.52; maximally compressed level: -0.59; caudal: -0.36), and diagnostic accuracy (rostral: 0.775; maximally compressed level: 0.860; caudal: 0.721), outperforming fractional anisotropy and magnetization transfer ratio in most comparisons and cross-sectional area at rostral/caudal levels. Rostral T2*WI WM/GM showed the strongest correlations with focal motor (-0.45) and sensory (-0.49) deficits and was the strongest independent predictor of the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score (P = .01) and diagnosis (P = .02) in multivariate models (R2 = 0.59, P = 8 × 10-13; area under the curve = 0.954, respectively). CONCLUSIONS T2*WI WM/GM shows promise as a novel biomarker of WM injury. It detects damage in compressed and uncompressed regions and contributes substantially to multivariate models for diagnosis and correlation with impairment. Our multiparametric approach overcomes limitations of individual measures, having the potential to improve diagnostics, monitor progression, and predict outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Martin
- From the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery (A.R.M., D.W.C., S.K.-R., L.T., A.N., H.G., M.G.F.)
| | - B De Leener
- Polytechnique Montreal (B.D.L., J.C.-A.), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - J Cohen-Adad
- Polytechnique Montreal (B.D.L., J.C.-A.), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Functional Neuroimaging Unit (J.C.-A.), Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - D W Cadotte
- From the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery (A.R.M., D.W.C., S.K.-R., L.T., A.N., H.G., M.G.F.)
| | - S Kalsi-Ryan
- From the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery (A.R.M., D.W.C., S.K.-R., L.T., A.N., H.G., M.G.F.)
| | - S F Lange
- University of Groningen (S.F.L.), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - L Tetreault
- From the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery (A.R.M., D.W.C., S.K.-R., L.T., A.N., H.G., M.G.F.)
| | - A Nouri
- From the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery (A.R.M., D.W.C., S.K.-R., L.T., A.N., H.G., M.G.F.)
| | - A Crawley
- Department of Medical Imaging (A.C., D.J.M.), University of Toronto and the University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - D J Mikulis
- Department of Medical Imaging (A.C., D.J.M.), University of Toronto and the University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - H Ginsberg
- From the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery (A.R.M., D.W.C., S.K.-R., L.T., A.N., H.G., M.G.F.)
| | - M G Fehlings
- From the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery (A.R.M., D.W.C., S.K.-R., L.T., A.N., H.G., M.G.F.)
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