Feasibility of Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging in Evaluating Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Multiple Sclerosis
Abstract Background:Quantitative evaluation of cervical spinal cord (CSC) injury in multiple sclerosis has always been a difficulty. The present study aimed to evaluate the lesion, normal-appearing gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) damage, and therapeutic effect using diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) on CSC of patients with multiple sclerosis.Methods: A total of 48 patients with MS and 30 healthy adults, underwent routine MR scan and DKI of CSC. DKI-metrics were measured in the lesions and in the normal-appearing gray and white matter. MS patients were divided into those with and without T2-hyperintense lesions. Disability was assessed by the expanded disability status scale before and after therapy.Results:1) Significant differences were detected in MK, MD, and FA values between patients and healthy subjects (P < 0.05) and between patients with CSC T2-hyperintense and patients without T2-hyperintense (P < 0.05); 2) Compared to healthy, GM-MK and WM-FA were statistically reduced in patients without T2-hyperintense (P < 0.05). 3) Significant differences were observed in MK, MD, and FA between patients with T2-hyperintense after therapy (P < 0.05), as well as GM-MK and WM-FA in patients without T2-hyperintense (P < 0.05); 4) EDSS was correlated with MK values, as well as EDSS scores and MK values after therapy.Conclusions:1) DKI-metrics can detect and quantitatively evaluate the changes in cervical spinal cord micropathological structure; 2) MK values are sensitive metrics to detect the damage of gray matter; 3) MK values quantitatively evaluate the clinical disability progression and the therapeutic effect in MS patients.