MR signal enhancement in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Correlation with surgical results in 35 cases.

In a review of Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging findings of 35 cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients, a localized increased signal intensity was observed within the most compressed segment of the cervical cord on T2 and proton density weighted images. Size and duration of cervical cord constriction seemed to be the predisposing factors in producing such an abnormality. All patients underwent surgery. Postoperatively the high MR signal intensity disappeared in 3 (8.6%) cases, decreased in other 20 (57.1%) cases, and did not change in the remaining 12 (34.3%) cases. Thus reversible (edema, transient ischemia) and/or irreversible (malacia, gliosis) histological changes seemed to be represented in MR signal enhancement.