Practical Tips for Imaging and Management of Spinal Cord Compression

Abstract

According to the National Spinal Cord Association, 250,000 to 400,000 people in the United States live with acute spinal cord injuries or spinal cord dysfunction and an estimated 7800 new cases occur each year. Motor vehicle accidents account for 44% of these cases. The etiology of spinal cord compression is diverse. Common offenders are listed in Table 1. Efficient and accurate radiologic diagnosis of spinal cord compression should lead to prompt decompression to alleviate symptoms and to potentially reverse the progressive and devastating course of myelopathy, incontinence, and paresis.Table 1: Causes of Spinal Cord Compression From Most to Least CommonEfficient and accurate diagnosis of spinal cord compression should lead to prompt decompression to alleviate symptoms and reverse a progressive and devastating course. This review aims to update diagnostic radiologists with an understanding of spinal cord compression based on modern imaging and the current literature. Therefore, the focus will be on diagnostic imaging of spinal cord compression emphasizing an appreciation of the available imaging modalities and their applications. By using the best methodology, radiologists can provide valuable information to aid clinicians in timely management of these seriously ill patients.