DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i10.027

Pages: 3347-3357

An observational study of 100 patients was conducted on Siemens 1.5 T MAGNETOM Avanto MRI machine for evaluating the various causes of compressive myelopathy, characterizing spinal cord compressive lesions based on MRI findings and to classify the lesions based on location into extradural/intradural compartments. Routine sequences used were T1W and T2W (axial and sagittal), STIR (coronal) and myelosequence (sagittal). Spinal cord compression can occur due to various pathologies both intradural and extradural. Most cases have cord signal changes representing edema/myelopathy. Most common causes are degenerative disc changes, infections and trauma. Identification of theses causes early and effectively has a great influence on the outcome of the disease and patient morbidity as most of these causes if recognized early are easily manageable. MRI because of its high soft tissue contrast has a great advantage over other modalities like CT and plain radiography in identifying these causes precisely and with greater efficiency. MRI is also helpful not only in identifying the primary pathologies but also various complications occurring secondary to them which can be prevented if diagnosed early.