Measures of Quantitative MRI Correlate with Neurological Outcomes in Patients After Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Yunyan Zhang¹, V. Wee Yong¹, R. John Hurlbert¹, Steve Casha²

Sequential MR images from 52 patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) were examined. Maximum canal compromise (MCC), maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC), and the length and area of T2 hyperintensity on MR images were assessed at day1, day7, week4, and week52 after acute SCI. Neurological outcomes were evaluated using the ASIA score. MSCC and T2 hyperintensity were correlated significantly with motor and sensory scores over time (p<0.01 or 0.05). T2 lesion area was the best predictor of motor outcome at week52. It suggests that quantitative MRI could be invaluable to evaluate injuries in the spinal cord after acute attack.