The utility of diffusion-weighted imaging in patients with spinal cord infarction: difference from the findings of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Table 2 Comparison of spine MRI findings between patients with SCI and NMOSD

	SCI	NMOSD	p value
T2 hyperintense lesion	100%	100%	1
Lesion length (vertebral segments)	2 [1–2]	5 [2–7]	0.0019
Focal lesion within the T9–L2 level	47%	0%	0.0081
Owl’s eyes sign	13%	0%	0.49
Pencil-like hyperintensity	7%	0%	1
Posterior linear hyperintensity	27%	0%	0.11
LETM ≥ 3 vertebral segments	0%	67%	< 0.001
Bright spotty lesion	0%	67%	< 0.001
DWI hyperintense lesion	100%	60% (10)	0.017
DWI hyperintensity with low-ADC regions	100%	0% (10)	< 0.001
Owl’s eyes sign	25% (12)	0% (2)	1
Pencil-like hyperintensity	7%	0% (10)	1
Posterior linear hyperintensity	27%	0% (10)	0.11

Values are presented as percentage or median [interquartile range]. Items revealing significant differences between the SCI and NMOSD groups have p values in bold face. When all subjects are not assessed, the numbers of available subjects are indicated in the parentheses
DWI Diffusion-weighted imaging, LETM Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, MRI Magnetic resonance imaging, NMOSD Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, SCI Spinal cord infarction

ISSN: 1471-2377