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Son, Kwak, Han, Yoo, Kim, Ko, and Mun: Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Study of Cine Phase Contrast in Normal Cervical Spinal Cords
Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2013; 17(2): 123-132.

Published online: 30 June 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13104/jksmrm.2013.17.2.123

Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Study of Cine Phase Contrast in Normal Cervical Spinal Cords

B.K. Son1, 2, S.Y. Kwak3, Y.H. Han3, J.S. Yoo2, O.H. Kim4, H.Y. Ko5, C.W. Mun1, 3

1Department of Medical Imaging Science, Graduate School Inje University, Korea.

2Division of MRI, Department of Diganostic Radiology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Korea.

3Department of Biomedical Engineering, and U-Health care Research Center, Inje University, Korea.

4Department of Radiology, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Korea.

5Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Korea.

Corresponding author: C.W. Mun, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Engineering and UHRC, Inje University, 197, Inje-ro, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam 621-749, Korea. Tel. 82-55-320-3297 Fax. 82-55-327-3292, mcw@inje.ac.kr

Received 13 February 2013       Revised 27 March 2013       Accepted 29 March 2013

Copyright © 2013 Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

We report the results of the various parameters of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and CSF flow study of the cervical spinal cord using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques.

Materials and Methods

Intramedullary FA and MD were measured in the gray matter and posterior cord of the white matter and both lateral cords of the white matter at the C2-3, C4-5, C5-6 spinal levels. For the CSF flow study, velocity encoding was obtained at the C2-3, C4-5, C5-6 spinal levels.

Results

There was a significant difference of the FA and MD between the white matter and gray matter (p < 0.05). The FA of the gray matter was significantly different according to the cervical spinal cord levels (p < 0.05). Otherwise, the FA and MD parameters were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The mean peak systolic velocity and mean peak diastolic velocity were 5.18±2.00 cm/sec and -7.32±3.18 cm/sec, respectively from C2 to C6 spinal cords. There was no significant difference in these velocities among the cervical spinal cord (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

This basic information about DTI and CSF dynamics of the cervical spinal cord may be useful for assessing cervical spinal cord abnormalities using MR imaging.

Keywords: Cervical spinal cords, Magnetic resonance imaging, Diffusion tensor imaging, Phase contrast imaging, Cerebrospinal fluid flow

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
T2 Sagittal view of cervical spine.
jksmrm-17-123-g001
Fig. 2
Segmentation of ROI within cervical spinal cord.
jksmrm-17-123-g002
Fig. 3
ROI of PC CSF flow study.
jksmrm-17-123-g003
Fig. 4
Diffusion tensor image (FA, MD, Color FA from top to bottom).
jksmrm-17-123-g004
Fig. 5
Measured values of FA (a) and MD (b) in cervical spinal cord.
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Fig. 6
Results of FA (a), MD (b) within subarea (lateral, dorsal and GM) among C2-3, C4-5 and C5-6.
jksmrm-17-123-g006
Fig. 7
Phase image of cervical spinal canal for the systolic peak (a) and the diastolic peak (b).
jksmrm-17-123-g007
Table 1
FA and MD of C2-3
jksmrm-17-123-i001

Note.-Values are mean ± standard deviation.

FA: Fractional Anisotropy, MD: Mean Diffusivity, Lateral_Rt: Right lateral white matter, Lateral_Lt: left lateral white matter, Dorsal: Dorsal white matter.

Table 2
FA and MD of C4-5
jksmrm-17-123-i002

Note.-Values are mean ± standard deviation.

FA: Fractional Anisotropy, MD: Mean Diffusivity, Lateral_Rt: Right lateral white matter, Lateral_Lt: left lateral white matter, Dorsal: Dorsal white matter.

Table 3
FA and MD of C5-6
jksmrm-17-123-i003

Note.-Values are mean ± standard deviation.

FA: Fractional Anisotropy, MD: Mean Diffusivity, Lateral_Rt: Right lateral white matter, Lateral_Lt: left lateral white matter, Dorsal: Dorsal white matter.

Table 4
Results of CSF Velocities Among C2-3, C4-5, C5-6
jksmrm-17-123-i004

Note.-Values are mean ± standard deviation.

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