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

Authors:
  • RIR. N. Ichord
    R. N. Ichord
  • RZR. A. Zimmerman
    R. A. Zimmerman
  • SSS. E. Smith
    S. E. Smith
  • DLD. J. Licht
    D. J. Licht
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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.