Cervical cord magnetic resonance imaging findings in systemic immune-mediated diseases

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with systemic i mmune-mediated diseases (SID) affecting the central nervous sg stem (CNS ) are heterogeneous and lack diagnostic specificity. In the present study, we evaluated the potential role of cervical cord MRI for increasing confidenc e when making a diagnosis of SID. Sagittal, T2-weighted images of the cervi cal cord were obtained in patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with (NSLE, n = 9) and without clinical CNS involvement (n = 15), Be hcet disease (BD, n = 5), Wegener granulomatosis (WG, n = 9), antiphospholi pid antibody syndrome (APLAS, it = 6) and multiple sclerosis ( MS, n = 10). Spinal cord hyperintense lesions were found in 9/10 MS patients, while no lesions were visible in the cervical cord of any patient with SID, regardle ss of the presence or absence of brain abnormalities. Cervical cord MRI can be useful in diagnosing patients suspected of having a SLD. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.