Role of diffusion MRI in diagnosis of spinal cord infarction in children

Neuropediatrics. 2008 Jun;39(3):188-91. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1093335. Epub 2008 Nov 7.

Abstract

Anterior spinal artery (ASA) infarction is a rare but well-described cause of flaccid paraparesis in adults, presenting with a high thoracic spinothalamic sensory level and preservation of dorsal column function. Careful sensory examination, demonstrating loss of spinothalamic modalities with preservation of dorsal column modalities, supports a clinical diagnosis of ASA infarction. Findings on conventional MRI of the spinal cord are often non-specific, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is not routinely performed. We describe four children with ASA infarction after minor trauma. DWI was performed in all cases and confirmed the clinical diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome / etiology
  • Child
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hypesthesia / etiology
  • Hypesthesia / pathology
  • Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Infarction / etiology
  • Male
  • Spinal Cord / blood supply*
  • Spinal Cord Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Spinal Cord Ischemia / etiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / complications