Surg Neurol 1990;33:281-3
281
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiologic Abnormality Akira Matsumura, Yoichi Kikuchi,
M.D., M.D.,
Kotoo
Meguro,
Mitsuyoshi
Wada,
M.D.,
F.R.C.S. (C.), Hideo
M.D.,
and Yoshitaka
Tsurushima,
Nakata,
M.D.,
M.D.
Departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Tsukuba Medical Center, lbaraki, .Japan
Matsumura A, Meguro K, Tsurushima 1I, Kikuchi Y, Wada M, Nakata Y. Magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality. Surg Neurol 1990;33:281-3.
A 3-year-old girl with spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality (SCIWORA) is reported. Magnetic r e s o n a n c e imaging (MRI) showed an abnormal intensity of the spinal cord at the level of C7 t o T h l in the acute stage and severe atrophic change in the chronic stage. This is the first report of SCIWORA with positive diagnostic imaging. The mechanism of SCIWORA is discussed based on the positive MRI findings.
dent with the diagnosis of C I / 2 subluxation. Lateral cervical spine radiograph rew:aled the atlantoaxial distance to be 6 m m in flexion and 4 m m in the neutral position (Figure 1). Magnetic resonance imaging on the day of admission (Toshiba M R T - 5 0 A , 0.5 Tesla) showed high-intensity changes on T2-weighted images [Field Gradient Echo method (FE) 300/22/Flip angle 15 ° ]
KEY WORDS: Spinal cord injury; Children; Magnetic resonance imaging
Introduction Spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality is seen in 4 % - 6 6 . 7 ~ of all pediatric spinal cord injuries [2,6,9,10]. Despite severe symptoms and poor neurologic recovery in many cases, the pathology of SCIWO R A is not sufficiently understood. We report a case of S C I W O R A in which a positive MRI was obtained. The level o f neurologic deficits correlated with the level seen on MRI. We discuss the pathomechanism o f S C I W O R A based on the serial MRI findings.
Case
Report
A 3-year-old girl was involved in a m o t o r vehicle accident and became paraplegic (below the level o f T1) immediately after this event. A frontal bruise was seen. She was referred to our hospital 10 days after the acci-
AddreJs reprint reque.*ts to." Akira Matsumura, M.D., Department of Neurosurgery, Tsukuba Medical Center, l-~ Amakubo, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki 305, Japan. Received August 29, 1989; accepted December 15, 1989. ~
281
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiologic Abnormality Akira Matsumura, Yoichi Kikuchi,
M.D., M.D.,
Kotoo
Meguro,
Mitsuyoshi
Wada,
M.D.,
F.R.C.S. (C.), Hideo
M.D.,
and Yoshitaka
Tsurushima,
Nakata,
M.D.,
M.D.
Departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Tsukuba Medical Center, lbaraki, .Japan
Matsumura A, Meguro K, Tsurushima 1I, Kikuchi Y, Wada M, Nakata Y. Magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality. Surg Neurol 1990;33:281-3.
A 3-year-old girl with spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality (SCIWORA) is reported. Magnetic r e s o n a n c e imaging (MRI) showed an abnormal intensity of the spinal cord at the level of C7 t o T h l in the acute stage and severe atrophic change in the chronic stage. This is the first report of SCIWORA with positive diagnostic imaging. The mechanism of SCIWORA is discussed based on the positive MRI findings.
dent with the diagnosis of C I / 2 subluxation. Lateral cervical spine radiograph rew:aled the atlantoaxial distance to be 6 m m in flexion and 4 m m in the neutral position (Figure 1). Magnetic resonance imaging on the day of admission (Toshiba M R T - 5 0 A , 0.5 Tesla) showed high-intensity changes on T2-weighted images [Field Gradient Echo method (FE) 300/22/Flip angle 15 ° ]
KEY WORDS: Spinal cord injury; Children; Magnetic resonance imaging
Introduction Spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality is seen in 4 % - 6 6 . 7 ~ of all pediatric spinal cord injuries [2,6,9,10]. Despite severe symptoms and poor neurologic recovery in many cases, the pathology of SCIWO R A is not sufficiently understood. We report a case of S C I W O R A in which a positive MRI was obtained. The level o f neurologic deficits correlated with the level seen on MRI. We discuss the pathomechanism o f S C I W O R A based on the serial MRI findings.
Case
Report
A 3-year-old girl was involved in a m o t o r vehicle accident and became paraplegic (below the level o f T1) immediately after this event. A frontal bruise was seen. She was referred to our hospital 10 days after the acci-
AddreJs reprint reque.*ts to." Akira Matsumura, M.D., Department of Neurosurgery, Tsukuba Medical Center, l-~ Amakubo, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki 305, Japan. Received August 29, 1989; accepted December 15, 1989. ~
