Analysis of clinical manifestations and MRI features in multiple sclerosis involved with spinal cord

Abstract

Objective To analyse the significance of clinical manifestations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features in clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) involved with spinal cord. Methods The clinical data and MRI features of 46 inpatients with spinal cord involvement of multiple sclerosis from January 2006 to December 2009 were analysed retrospectively. Results The main onset type of the patients was acute (58.70% , 27/46) or sub ⁃ acute (34.78% , 16/46). The main clinical manifestations were acroparalysis (95.65%, 44/46), sensory disturbance (84.78%, 39/46) and retention of urine (67.39%, 31/46). MRI showed that cervical involvement was most common (45.65%, 21/46) which was followed by thoracic involvement (28.26% , 13/46). Single or multiple scattered long T1 and T2 abnormal signal patches were seen, and the lesion often involved 2 or less than 2 vertebrae (84.78%, 39/46) and might involve more than 2 vertebral segments (15.22%, 7/46). Different signal intensity was seen on enhanced scanning. Conclusion The clinical manifestations of patients with multiple sclerosis involved spinal cord are diverse. MRI shows that spinal cord involvement presents single or multiple lesions which usually do not involve more than 2 vertebral segments. Even if the lesion segment is extended, multiple sclerosis can not be excluded. MRI is the most sensitive and most specific imaging method to diagnose multiple sclerosis involved spinal cord.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2011.01.020