Diffusion Tensor (Magnetic Resonance) Imaging and Tractography in Herniation of the Cervical Spine: An Investigator-Initiated Pilot Study

Conventional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is used to confirm disc herniation of the cervical spine. Symptoms of the condition can change before they can be seen by conventional MR images. Therefore, very little gross change can be seen by conventional MRI even after 6 weeks of treatment, either medical or surgical. This study will investigate whether newer MRI techniques, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography, are useful in demonstrating gross changes or assessing response to treatment.

Consenting patients referred for clinically indicated cervical spine MRI by their treating physicians to confirm cervical disc herniation will receive an additional MRI sequence, diffusion tensor imaging. This will provide a baseline. The DTI sequence will add five minutes to the procedure. Participants will return at 6 weeks for a follow up MRI of the cervical spine to include DTI and tractography. Participants will be asked to complete an anonymized questionnaire at enrollment and at follow up to provide information regarding their condition.

MRI is a non-invasive diagnostic study of minimal risk which uses magnets instead of ionizing radiation to acquire images. The images are then assembled by computer. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) uses water diffusion to visualize structures in the brain and nervous system. Tractography is performed using DTI and computer post-processing to track the fiber bundles which exist in the brain and spinal cord and visualize them as two and three dimensional images. Both techniques allow radiologists to detect abnormalities, in this case, cervical spine disc herniation.

The follow up studies will be compared to the baseline studies to determine which demonstrates the highest sensitivity and specificity in identifying cervical spine abnormalities in general and cervical spine herniation in particular.