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Keegan BM, Messina SA, Hanson D, Holmes D, Camp J, Sechi E, Nayak S, Barakat B, Ahmad R, Mandrekar J, Harmsen WS, Kantarci O, Weinshenker BG, Flanagan EP. MR Imaging Features of Critical Spinal Demyelinating Lesions Associated with Progressive Motor Impairment. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2024:ajnr.A8304. [PMID: 38754997 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Progressive MS is typically heralded by a myelopathic pattern of asymmetric progressive motor weakness. Focal individual "critical" demyelinating spinal cord lesions anatomically associated with progressive motor impairment may be a compelling explanation for this clinical presentation as described in progressive solitary sclerosis (single CNS demyelinating lesion), progressive demyelination with highly restricted MR imaging lesion burden (2-5 total CNS demyelinating lesions; progressive paucisclerotic MS), and progressive, exclusively unilateral hemi- or monoparetic MS (>5 CNS demyelinating progressive unilateral hemi- or monoparetic MS [PUHMS] lesions). Critical demyelinating lesions appear strikingly similar across these cohorts, and we describe their specific spinal cord MR imaging characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective, observational MR imaging study comparing spinal cord critical demyelinating lesions anatomically associated with progressive motor impairment with any additional "noncritical" (not anatomically associated with progressive motor impairment) spinal cord demyelinating lesions. All spinal cord MR images (302 cervical and 91 thoracic) were reviewed by an experienced neuroradiologist with final radiologic assessment on the most recent MR imaging. Anatomic association with clinical progressive motor impairment was confirmed independently by MS subspecialists. RESULTS Ninety-one individuals (PUHMS, 37 [41%], progressive paucisclerosis 35 [38%], progressive solitary sclerosis 19 [21%]) with 91 critical and 98 noncritical spinal cord MR imaging demyelinating lesions were evaluated. MR imaging characteristics that favored critical spinal cord demyelinating lesions over noncritical lesions included moderate-to-severe, focal, lesion-associated spinal cord atrophy: 41/91 (45%) versus 0/98 (0%) (OR, 161.91; 9.43 to >999.9); lateral column axial location (OR, 10.43; 3.88-28.07); central region (OR, 3.23; 1.78-5.88); ventral column (OR, 2.98; 1.55-5.72); and larger lesion size of the axial width (OR, 2.01;1.49-2.72), transverse axial size (OR, 1.66; 1.36-2.01), or lesion area (OR, 1.14; 1.08-1.2). Multiple regression analysis revealed focal atrophy and lateral axial location as having the strongest association with critical demyelinating lesions. CONCLUSIONS Focal, lesion-associated atrophy, lateral column axial location, and larger lesion size are spinal cord MR imaging characteristics of critical demyelinating lesions. The presence of critical demyelinating lesions should be sought as these features may be associated with the development of progressive motor impairment in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Mark Keegan
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Steven A Messina
- Department of Radiology (S.A.M.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Dennis Hanson
- Biomedical Imaging Resource (D. Hanson, D. Holmes, J.C.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - David Holmes
- Biomedical Imaging Resource (D. Hanson, D. Holmes, J.C.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Jon Camp
- Biomedical Imaging Resource (D. Hanson, D. Holmes, J.C.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Elia Sechi
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Università degli Studi di Sassari (E.S.), Sassari, Italy
| | - Shreya Nayak
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- St. Elizabeth Dearborn Hospital (S.N.), Lawrenceburg, Indiana
| | - Benan Barakat
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center (B.B.), Toledo, Ohio
| | - Rowaid Ahmad
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- University of Texas Medical Branch (R.A.), Galveston, Texas
| | - Jay Mandrekar
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Quantitative Health Services (J.M., W.S.H,), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - W Scott Harmsen
- Quantitative Health Services (J.M., W.S.H,), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Orhun Kantarci
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Brian G Weinshenker
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Department of Neurology (B.G.W.), University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Eoin P Flanagan
- From the Department of Neurology (B.M.K., E.S., S.N., B.B., R.A., J.M., O.K., B.G.W., E.P.F.), Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Jackson-Tarlton CS, Flanagan EP, Messina SA, Barakat B, Ahmad R, Kantarci OH, Weinshenker BG, Keegan BM. Progressive motor impairment from "critical" demyelinating lesions of the cervicomedullary junction. Mult Scler 2023; 29:74-80. [PMID: 36000479 DOI: 10.1177/13524585221114438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progressive motor impairment anatomically associated with a "critical" lesion has been described in primary demyelinating disease. Most "critical" lesions occur within the spinal cord. OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical and radiological features of "critical" lesions of the cervicomedullary junction (CMJ). METHODS Observational study on people presenting with a CMJ lesion associated with primary demyelinating disease-related progressive motor impairment. Clinical data were extracted by chart review. Brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance images were reviewed to characterize the CMJ lesion and determine additional demyelination burden. RESULTS Forty-one people were included: 29 (71%) had progression from onset and 12 (29%) had a relapse onset (secondary progressive) course. Most had progressive hemiparesis (21 (51%)) or progressive quadriparesis (15 (37%)) with a median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of 5.5 (2.0-8.5) at last follow-up. No "critical" CMJ lesion enhanced; most were bilateral (25 (61%)). Brain magnetic resonance images were otherwise normal in 16 (39%) or with a restricted demyelination burden in 15 (37%). Cervical and thoracic cord MRIs were without additional lesions in 25 (61%) and 22/37 (59%), respectively. CONCLUSION CMJ "critical" lesions can correlate with progressive motor impairment even with few or no additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions. Lesion location is an important determinant of progressive motor impairment in demyelinating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin S Jackson-Tarlton
- Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Eoin P Flanagan
- Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Benan Barakat
- Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA/ Department of Neurology, Mercy Health, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Rowaid Ahmad
- Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Orhun H Kantarci
- Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Brian G Weinshenker
- Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA/ Department of Neurology, UVA Health, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - B Mark Keegan
- Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Fadda G, Flanagan EP, Cacciaguerra L, Jitprapaikulsan J, Solla P, Zara P, Sechi E. Myelitis features and outcomes in CNS demyelinating disorders: Comparison between multiple sclerosis, MOGAD, and AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1011579. [PMID: 36419536 PMCID: PMC9676369 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1011579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory myelopathies can manifest with a combination of motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunction of variable severity. Depending on the underlying etiology, the episodes of myelitis can recur, often leading to irreversible spinal cord damage and major long-term disability. Three main demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system, namely multiple sclerosis (MS), aquaporin-4-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (AQP4+NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG associated disease (MOGAD), can induce spinal cord inflammation through different pathogenic mechanisms, resulting in a more or less profound disruption of spinal cord integrity. This ultimately translates into distinctive clinical-MRI features, as well as distinct patterns of disability accrual, with a step-wise worsening of neurological function in MOGAD and AQP4+NMOSD, and progressive disability accrual in MS. Early recognition of the specific etiologies of demyelinating myelitis and initiation of the appropriate treatment is crucial to improve outcome. In this review article we summarize and compare the clinical and imaging features of spinal cord involvement in these three demyelinating disorders, both during the acute phase and over time, and outline the current knowledge on the expected patterns of disability accrual and outcomes. We also discuss the potential implications of these observations for patient management and counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fadda
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Eoin P. Flanagan
- Department of Neurology, Center for MS and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Laura Cacciaguerra
- Department of Neurology, Center for MS and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Solla
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Pietro Zara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Elia Sechi
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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Barakat B, Messina S, Nayak S, Kassa R, Sechi E, Flanagan EP, Kantarci O, Weinshenker BG, Keegan BM. Cerebrospinal fluid evaluation in patients with progressive motor impairment due to critical central nervous system demyelinating lesions. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin 2022; 8:20552173211052159. [PMID: 35047187 PMCID: PMC8761886 DOI: 10.1177/20552173211052159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Elevated intrathecal immunoglobulin G (IgG; oligoclonal bands (OCBs)) or IgG in people with progressive motor impairment due to “critical” demyelinating lesions are of uncertain significance. Objective Compare clinical/radiological features of people with “critical” demyelinating lesion-induced progressive motor impairment with/without elevated intrathecal IgG synthesis. Methods A total of 133 people with progressive motor impairment attributable to “critical” demyelinating lesions (corticospinal tract location, consistent with the progressive motor deficit) were compared regarding clinical and radiological presentation with and without ≥2 unique cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) OCB and/or IgG index ≥0.85. Results Ninety-eight (74%) had CSF-elevated OCB and/or IgG index, higher with increased magnetic resonance imaging-lesion burden. No differences were found with/without CSF abnormalities in sex (46 of 98 female (47%) vs. 22 of 35 (63%), p = 0.11), onset-age (median 49 vs. 50 years, p = 0.5), progression from onset (62 of 98 (63%) vs. 25 of 35 (71%)), progression post-relapse (36 of 98 (37%) vs. 10 of 35 (29%), p = 0.4), and duration between demyelinating disease onset and CSF examination (30 (0–359) vs. 48 (0–323) months p = 0.7). “Critical” lesions were radiologically similar, most commonly cervical spine located (72 of 98 (74%) vs. 19 of 35 (54%), p = 0.18) both with/without CSF abnormalities. Conclusions People with “critical” demyelinating lesion-induced progressive motor impairment typically have elevated intrathecal IgG (OCB and/or IgG) and similar clinical and radiological presentation regardless of CSF findings, therefore representing valid presentations of progressive demyelinating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benan Barakat
- Department of Family Medicine, Bon Secours Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Steve Messina
- Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Shreya Nayak
- St. Elizabeth Physicians, Crestview Hills, KY, USA
| | - Roman Kassa
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elia Sechi
- Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | | | | | - B Mark Keegan
- Department of Neurology Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA
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