EVALUATION OF COMPRESSIVE MYELOPATHY BY USING MRI AS THE MODALITY OF CHOICE

Abstract

The primary purpose of the study is to discuss the causes of compressive myelopathy, characterize compressive lesions, and to localize the lesion either to extramedullary or intramedullary compartment using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the modality of choice. A hundred patients who came to the hospital and are clinically suspected of having compressive myelopathy underwent MRI. The leading common cause of compressive myelopathy in this study was found to be extradural compression over the cord due to degenerative changes (50%). The second most common cause was found to be infectious spondylitis (20%), third being post-traumatic compressive myelopathy (12%), followed by primary neoplasms & metastases (12%) and other causes like hindbrain and craniovertebral abnormalities(6%). MRI detected cord signal changes in cases with cord compression and also assessed the integrity of the spinal cord, intervertebral discs, and ligament after acute spinal trauma. MRI, though expensive, is a non-invasive, radiation-free modality with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the evaluation of compressive myelopathy.