Diffusion Tensor Tractography (DTT): An Objective Method of Determining Clinically-Relevant, Compressive, Spinal Cord Myelopathy
Rajul Rastogi1*, Sumeet Bhargava2, Prabhat Kumar Bhagat1, Yuktika Gupta1, Pawan Joon1, Pankaj Kumar Das1, Pragya Sinha1, Vijai Pratap1, Mohini Chaudhary1, Francis Randhawa1, Hanook Lawrence1
Affiliation
- 1Department of Radiodiagnosis, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Center, Moradabad, U.P, India
- 2Department of Radiodiagnosis, Rama Medical College, Hospital and Research Center, Hapur, U.P., India
Corresponding Author
Dr. Rajul Rastogi, MD, ADND, MNAMS, FIMSA, FICRI, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Center, Moradabad, U.P, India; E-mail: eesharastogi@gmail.com
Citation
Rastogi, R., et al. Diffusion Tensor Tractography (DTT) – An Objective Method of Determining Clinically Relevant, Compressive, Spinal Cord Myelopathy. (2016) Int J Neuro Brain Dis 3(3): 1- 5.
Copy rights
© 2016 Rastogi, R. This is an Open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Keywords
Abstract
We commonly come across cases of compressive spinal cord myelopathy (CSCM) due to variety of clinical conditions in our day-to-day radiological practice. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has long been considered as the gold-standard imaging tool for evaluation of such cases. These cases reveal signs of spinal cord compression with or without alteration in spinal cord parenchymal signal alteration. Though, diffusion tensor imaging especially fiber-tracking or tractography has been described to be superior to routine MRI in predicting prognosis and urgency of decompression yet fewer studies have been conducted to demonstrate it especially in developing world. Hence, this study aims to evaluate diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) as an advanced dimension of MRI in patients with CSCM in predicting necessity of decompression management, predicting prognosis and evaluating post-decompression outcome objectively in simplified manner.