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Neuropediatrics 2008; 39(3): 188-191
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1093335
Short Communication

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Role of Diffusion MRI in Diagnosis of Spinal Cord Infarction in Children

L. A. Beslow 1 , R. N. Ichord 1 , R. A. Zimmerman 2 , S. E. Smith 1 , D. J. Licht 1
  • 1Division of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
  • 2Division of Neuroradiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received 10.03.2008 revised 16.06.2008

accepted 18.09.2008

Publication Date:
07 November 2008 (online)

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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.

Key words

spinal cord infarction - anterior spinal artery - diffusion-weighted imaging - magnetic resonance imaging - child - pediatric spinal cord

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Correspondence

D. J. LichtMD 

Division of Neurology

6th Floor Wood Building

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

34th Street and Civic Center Blvd

19104 Philadelphia

USA

Phone: +1/215/590/17 19

Fax: +1/215/590/17 71

Email: licht@email.chop.edu