• Nishtha Yadav, Hima Pendharkar, and Girish Baburao Kulkarni.
• Department of Neuroimaging & Interventional Radiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India. Electronic address: nishthayadav@yahoo.com.
• J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2018 Oct 1; 27 (10): 2810-2821.

IntroductionSpinal cord infarction is an uncommon disease varying in its clinical presentation. This study describes the clinical and radiological presentation of spinal cord infarcts in 17 consecutive patients.Material And MethodsClinical and MR imaging data of 17 patients were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were acute or subacute presentation (peak within 72 hours) and MRI showing typical signal changes on T2WI compatible with spinal cord infarct. Exclusion criteria were clinical or MRI findings suggesting other etiologies.ResultsClinical presentation included dissociative anesthesia, weakness of limbs, back or neck pain, and autonomic symptoms with symptom onset to peak time ranging from few minutes to 48 hours in patients with anterior spinal artery infarct (n = 16), and weakness and sensory loss in ipsilateral upper limb in patient with posterior spinal artery infarct (n = 1). One patient presented with "man-in-the-barrel syndrome (MIB)." MRI findings in anterior spinal artery infarcts included pencillike hyperintensities on T2 sagittal (n = 16, 100%) and "owl eye" appearance on T2 axial (n = 6, 37.5%) images. Diffusion restriction was noted in 8 cases and enhancement was noted in 2 cases. The posterior spinal artery infarct showed T2 hyperintensity in left posterior paramedian triangular distribution in cervical cord (C2-C7). Follow-up was available for 9 patients (period ranging from 15-41 months). Four patients had a favorable outcome who could walk independently, 1 patient could walk with support, and 2 patients were wheelchair bound. Two patients died.ConclusionSpinal cord infarction is a rare but important cause of acute spinal syndrome. Typical distribution and appropriate imaging can help in timely diagnosis.Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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