Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord after nitrous oxide anaesthesia: role of magnetic resonance imaging

Demyelination is disclosed at MRI as high signal intensity lesions on T2 weighted images, explained by increased water content. 2 A slight degree of expansion was seldom noted. 3 Pronounced, multifocal contrast enhancement of the cervical and thoracic sections of the spinal cord after administration...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 1998-04, Vol.64 (4), p.563-564
Main Authors: BELTRAMELLO, ALBERTO, PUPPINI, GIOVANNI, CERINI, ROBERTO, EL-DALATI, GHASSAN, MANFREDI, MICHELA, RONCOLATO, GIORGIO, IDONE, DOMENICO, DE TOGNI, LAURA, TURAZZINI, MICHELANGELO
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Anesthetics, Inhalation - adverse effects
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Fractures
Humans
Laboratories
Letters to the Editor
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous Oxide - adverse effects
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Spinal cord
Spinal Cord Diseases - chemically induced
Spinal Cord Diseases - diagnosis
Surgery
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - chemically induced
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - complications
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - diagnosis
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Description
Summary:Demyelination is disclosed at MRI as high signal intensity lesions on T2 weighted images, explained by increased water content. 2 A slight degree of expansion was seldom noted. 3 Pronounced, multifocal contrast enhancement of the cervical and thoracic sections of the spinal cord after administration of gadolinium DTPA, indicating blood-CNS barrier disruption, was recently reported. 3 Even if involvement of posterior columns is the origin of a characteristic MRI pattern, it is important to notice that similar findings can be found also in cases of purely spinal forms of multiple sclerosis, combined system disease of non-pernicious anaemia type, peripheral neuropathy (as in POEMS syndrome), and other rare pathological conditions.
ISSN:0022-3050
1468-330X
DOI:10.1136/jnnp.64.4.563