Methodological aspects of magnetic resonance tomographic diagnostics of metastatic compressive fractures of the spine

• Main Authors: Александр Павлович Мягков, Станислав Александрович Мягков, Александр Сергеевич Семенцов, Сергей Юрьевич Наконечный
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PC Technology Center 2015-06-01
• Series: ScienceRise
• Subjects: МРТ; metastatic compressive fracture; pulse patterns; signal characteristics
• Online Access: http://journals.uran.ua/sciencerise/article/view/45164

<p><strong>Aim of the study –</strong> to define an information value of the different pulse patterns for a qualitative estimation of MR-signals in the body of compressed vertebras.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>50 patients with metastatic compressive fractures (MCF) were examined using MRT. 30 (60%) mans and 20 (40%) woman, average age 60,8 +/- 12,5 years. Fractures in the different parts of spine were considered: cervical – 6 (12,0); thoracic – 25 (50,0 %); lumbar – 19 (38 %). Metastasis in the spine are more frequent at a cancer of mammary gland (20,0 %), kidneys (17,5 %) and prostate gland (15,0 %), less frequent at a cancer of lungs, thyroid gland and sarcomas (7,5 %).</p><p>MRT was done for all patients using apparatus with magnetic force 0,2, 1,5 and 0,36Т (AIRIS Mate, ECHELON of "HitachimedicalCorp.", Japan, “I-Open 0, 36” Chine)in 3 projections receiving Т1-, Т2- weighted (Т1WI, Т2WI) and diffusion-weighted images (DWI)and also images with suppression of signals from an adipose tissue (STIR, Fat/sat).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the more obvious pulse patterns (PP) at MCF of spine are – STIR (97,8 %), Т1WI и DWI (80 %). DWI can be used as a screening and addition for above-listed PP. The more objective criterion for a judgment about MCF is abnormal uptake of CM (60 %) on diffuse type.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>for MRT visualization of MCF the most optimal are the next PP – STIR, Т1WI and DWI, with a sensitivity, respectively – 97,8 %, 80 %, and 80 %. DWI must supplement but not substitute all existing PP. On the post-contrast T1WI an objective criterion for MRT diagnostics of MCF is an abnormal uptake of CM on diffuse type. An alteration of signal characteristics in the body of compressed vertebras is an evidence of an alteration of structure, but for more precise definition of its character it is necessary to study its morphological alterations</p>