[Time course of diffusion weighted image and apparent diffusion coefficient in acute spinal cord infarction: A case report and review of the literature]

Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2016 May 31;56(5):352-5. doi: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.cn-000858. Epub 2016 Apr 19.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with acute onset of flaccid paraplegia and sensory and urinary disturbances that developed soon after acute pain in her lower back and leg. Neurological examination revealed, severe flaccid paraplegia, bladder and rectal disturbances and dissociated sensory loss below the level of L1 spinal cord segment. MR imaging with T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) on day 2 showed hyper signal intensity in the spinal cord at the vertebral level of L1 while initial apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) showed decreased signal intensity in the lesion. We diagnosed spinal cord infarction, and anticoagulant and neuroprotective agents were administrated. Serial MRI findings revealed that the DWI signal of the lesion attenuated with time, and pseudo-normalization of the ADC occurred approximately 1 month after onset. These findings were similar to those seen in brain infarction. Our patient demonstrated serial MRI changes of spinal cord infarction showing anterior spinal cord syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome / diet therapy
  • Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome / pathology
  • Anticoagulants / administration & dosage
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Edema / diagnostic imaging
  • Edema / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infarction / diagnostic imaging*
  • Infarction / drug therapy
  • Infarction / pathology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Neuroprotective Agents / administration & dosage
  • Spinal Cord / blood supply*
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Neuroprotective Agents