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Acute Transverse Myelitis: A Retrospective Study Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Thomas Scott*
Affiliation:
Medical College of Pennsylvania, Allegheny General Hospital
Norbert Weikers
Affiliation:
Medical College of Pennsylvania, Allegheny General Hospital
Mark Hospodar
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Joseph Wapenski
Affiliation:
Departments of Neurology and Nuclear Medicine, St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*
Suite 206 E. Wing, 420 East North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA U.S.A. 15212
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Abstract:

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The prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the syndrome of acute transverse myelitis had not been evaluated. After retrospective study of 14 cases, we found that MRI is valuable for both diagnosis and prognosis in this illness. The criteria for the diagnosis of acute transverse myelitis consisted of acute onset (over less than 3 weeks) of symmetrical motor and sensory dysfunction referable to a distinct spinal cord level, with sphincter dysfunction. Patients with abnormal MRIs of the spinal cord had significantly worse outcomes than patients with normal MRIs.

Résumé:

RÉSUMÉ:

La valeur de l'imagerie par résonance magnétique nucléaire pour établir le pronostic dans le syndrome de la myélite transverse aiguë n'a jamais été évaluée. Suite à une étude rétrospective de 14 cas, nous avons constaté que l'imagerie par résonance magnétique nucléaire était utile tant pour établir le diagnostic que pour évaluer le pronostic de cette maladie. Les critères diagnostiques de la myélite trasverse aiguë étaient les suivants: début subit (sur une période de moins de trois semaines) d'une dysfonction motrice et sensitive symétrique reliée à un niveau spinal bien précis, avec dysfonction sphinctérienne. Les patients dont l'imagerie était anormale avaient une issue significativement plus sombre que ceux dont l'imagerie était normale.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1994

References

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