Eine akute Kompressionsmyelopathie ohne vorausgegangenes bzw. nach minimalem Trauma
stellt einen medizinischen Notfall dar. Eine Dekompression des Rückenmarks innerhalb
der ersten 24 h bringt bessere neurologische Ergebnisse [1]
[2]
[3]. Daher wird bei Verdacht auf eine Kompression häufig eine spinale MRT durchgeführt.
In der Notaufnahme tätige Radiologen sollten deshalb mit den Differenzialdiagnosen
einer akuten Myelopathie vertraut sein.
Abstract
The occurrence of acute myelopathy in a nontrauma setting constitutes a medical emergency
for which spinal MRI is frequently ordered as the first step in the patient’s workup. The
emergency department radiologist should be familiar with the common differential diagnoses
of acute myelopathy and be able to differentiate compressive from noncompressive causes.
The degree of spinal cord compression and presence of an intramedullary T2-hyperintense
signal suggestive of an acute cord edema are critical findings for subsequent urgent
care such as surgical decompression. Importantly, a delay in diagnosis may lead to
permanent disability. In the spinal canal, compressive myelopathy can be localized
to the epidural, intradural extramedullary, or intramedullary anatomic spaces. Effacement
of the epidural fat and the lesion’s relation to the thecal sac help to distinguish
an epidural lesion from an intradural lesion. Noncompressive myelopathy manifests
as an intramedullary T2-hyperintense signal without an underlying mass and has a wide
range of vascular, metabolic, inflammatory, infectious, and demyelinating causes with
seemingly overlapping imaging appearances. The differential diagnosis can be refined
by considering the location of the abnormal signal intensity within the cord, the
longitudinal extent of the disease, and the clinical history and laboratory findings.
Use of a compartmental spinal MRI approach in patients with suspected nontraumatic
spinal cord injury helps to localize the abnormality to an epidural, intradural extramedullary,
or intramedullary space, and when combined with clinical and laboratory findings,
aids in refining the diagnosis and determining the appropriate surgical or nonsurgical
management.
Schlüsselwörter
Rückenmarkskompression - kompressive Ursachen - nicht kompressive Ursachen - Notfalldiagnostik
- MRT
Keywords
Spinal cord compression - compressive causes - noncompressive causes - medical emergency
- MRI
