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Academic Level (Author 1)

Medical Student

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Clinical Science

Abstract

Background: Stroke, also termed cerebral infarction, results in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the brain at area of the infarct and peri-infarct regions. It has also been established that damage in the motor pathways including the corticospinal tract contribute to motor deficits in post-stroke patients. Recent research has recognized the involvement of alternate sensorimotor pathways in the spinal cord that underline disease progression and the degree of functional recovery post-stroke. Evaluating the role of alternate sensorimotor pathways in the brain can be challenging, since the pathways remained crossed until they reach the spinal cord. Although MRI has been used to examine damage in regions of the brain following a stroke, few MRI studies have been conducted to investigate neurodegeneration in the spinal cord. Creating optimal techniques to study spinal cord MRI could provide a way to better evaluate the alternate sensorimotor pathways to give way to higher prognostic methods and enhanced treatment modalities in post-stroke patients.

Methods and Results: Here we review current research on spinal cord MRI imaging techniques and analysis approaches, such as, Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI), Spinal Cord Toolbox, Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), in different neurological conditions that could be applied to analyzing post-stroke spinal cord. We summarize the advantages and limitations of each technique.

Conclusion: Spinal cord imaging and analysis could provide a powerful tool to evaluate alternate sensorimotor pathways following neurological injury, in particular, stroke. Our review suggests that new analysis techniques, such as NODDI, can provide higher level specificity to understand degeneration at the level of the spinal cord. Future studies should consider utilizing spinal cord analysis to understand the role of alternate sensorimotor pathway degeneration and regeneration following a stroke.

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Poster

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Analysis of Secondary Neurodegeneration In Spinal Cord MRI In Post-Stroke Patients

Background: Stroke, also termed cerebral infarction, results in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the brain at area of the infarct and peri-infarct regions. It has also been established that damage in the motor pathways including the corticospinal tract contribute to motor deficits in post-stroke patients. Recent research has recognized the involvement of alternate sensorimotor pathways in the spinal cord that underline disease progression and the degree of functional recovery post-stroke. Evaluating the role of alternate sensorimotor pathways in the brain can be challenging, since the pathways remained crossed until they reach the spinal cord. Although MRI has been used to examine damage in regions of the brain following a stroke, few MRI studies have been conducted to investigate neurodegeneration in the spinal cord. Creating optimal techniques to study spinal cord MRI could provide a way to better evaluate the alternate sensorimotor pathways to give way to higher prognostic methods and enhanced treatment modalities in post-stroke patients.

Methods and Results: Here we review current research on spinal cord MRI imaging techniques and analysis approaches, such as, Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI), Spinal Cord Toolbox, Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), in different neurological conditions that could be applied to analyzing post-stroke spinal cord. We summarize the advantages and limitations of each technique.

Conclusion: Spinal cord imaging and analysis could provide a powerful tool to evaluate alternate sensorimotor pathways following neurological injury, in particular, stroke. Our review suggests that new analysis techniques, such as NODDI, can provide higher level specificity to understand degeneration at the level of the spinal cord. Future studies should consider utilizing spinal cord analysis to understand the role of alternate sensorimotor pathway degeneration and regeneration following a stroke.

 

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