Abstract #0404

Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Human Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy using a 2D RF Excitation Pulse Combined with a Reduced Field-Of-View Single-Shot Echoplanar Readout (Zoomed-EPI)

Benjamin M. Ellingson¹, John Grinstead², Josef Pfeuffer³, Thorsten Feiweier³, Langston Holly⁴, Noriko Salamon¹

¹Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; ²Siemens Healthcare, Portland, OR, USA; ³Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany; ⁴Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common spinal disorder characterized by degeneration of verebral bodies, intervertebral disks, facet joints, and the associated ligaments typically resulting in formation of bony spurs and myelopathy. An imaging biomarker sensitive to the degree of neurological impairment and recovery after surgery is desired. In the current study, we utilize a custom 2D spatially selective RF excitation pulse combined with a reduced field-of-view single-shot echoplanar readout (Zoomed-EPI) to obtain high resolution, high-quality diffusion tensor images of the neurologically-intact spinal cord and the spinal cord of patients with CSM.