LONGITUDINAL MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING STUDY OF THE CERVICAL CORD INMULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

This study was performed to evaluate the correlation between changes o f cross-sectional cord area and disability in multiple sclerosis. Axia l magnetic resonance images at the C-5 spinal level were obtained at e ntry and 12 months later for 29 patients with clinically definite mult iple sclerosis. The degree of disability was inversely correlated at e ntry and follow-up with the cross-sectional area and the transverse di ameter of the spinal cord. In addition, changes in disability correlat ed inversely with changes in cross-sectional area (r = -0.4, p = 0.04) . These findings suggest that cross-sectional cord area at C-5 might b e a useful marker of disease evolution.