A CASE OF SUBACUTE COMBINED DEGENERATION - MRI FINDINGS

The specific spinal cord lesion caused by vitamin B12 deficiency is kn own as subacute combined degeneration (SCD). Neuropathological studies of SCD show lesions mainly in the posterior and lateral columns, invo lving the cortico-spinal and spine-cerebellar tracts. We report a case of SCD in a 19-year-old man who presented with 4 weeks history of gra dually progressing tingling in both hands. MRI of the cervical spine d emonstrated symmetrical areas of T2 signal abnormality involving the d orsal columns of the cervical cord from the C2 through C5 levels assoc iated with spinal cord expansion. He was treated with vitamin B12 supp lements and experienced gradual improvement in his clinical symptoms. Repeat MRI of the cervical spine after 2 months revealed slight decrea se in the area of abnormal signal.