• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2013

Purpose : We report the results of the various parameters of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and CSF flow study of the cervical spinal cord using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques. Materials and Methods: Intramedullary FA and MD were measured in the gray matter and posterior cord of the white matter and both lateral cords of the white matter at the C2-3, C4-5, C5-6 spinal levels. For the CSF flow study, velocity encoding was obtained at the C2-3, C4-5, C5-6 spinal levels. Results: There was a significant difference of the FA and MD between the white matter and gray matter (p < 0.05). The FA of the gray matter was significantly different according to the cervical spinal cord levels (p < 0.05). Otherwise, the FA and MD parameters were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The mean peak systolic velocity and mean peak diastolic velocity were $5.18{\pm}2.00cm/sec$ and $-7.32{\pm}3.18cm/sec$, respectively from C2 to C6 spinal cords. There was no significant difference in these velocities among the cervical spinal cord (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This basic information about DTI and CSF dynamics of the cervical spinal cord may be useful for assessing cervical spinal cord abnormalities using MR imaging.