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Diagnostic Utility of Spinal MR Angiography and Spinal MR Tractography in a Patient with Vascular Myelopathy

https://doi.org/10.24884/1682-6655-2026-25-1-93-97

Abstract

This article describes a patient with acute lower paraplegia, in whom spinal MR angiography failed to visualize the artery of Adamkiewicz, while the anterior spinal artery and the artery of Desproges-Gottteron were narrowed and shortened. MR tractography demonstrated unchanged fiber pathways in the lower spinal cord. This pattern of spinal vascular depletion proves the expediency of using spinal MR angiography for the differential diagnosis of myelopathies. In 1968, one of the pioneers of research on vascular spinal pathology, G. Lazorthes, wrote that «it becomes obvious to neurologists that spinal vascular pathology is not less common than cerebrovascular pathology. Neurological syndromes, previously referred to as myelitis, turn out to be vascular myelopathies in most cases» (Lazorthes, 1992). Modern neuroimaging techniques confirm this conclusion.

About the Authors

V. V. Belenky
Priozersk Interdistrict Central Hospital
Russian Federation

Belenky Vadim V. – Neurologist.

43, Kalinina str., Priozersk, Leningrad Region, 188760



N. A. Plakhotina
Sergey Berezin Medical Institute (MIBS)
Russian Federation

Plakhotina Nadezhda A. – Candidate (PhD) of Medical Sciences, Radiologist.

24-26, 6th Sovetskaya str., Saint Petersburg, 191144



P. A. Dugaev
Sergey Berezin Medical Institute (MIBS)
Russian Federation

Dugaev Pavel A. – Radiologic Technologist.

24-26, 6th Sovetskaya str., Saint Petersburg, 191144



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For citations:


Belenky V.V., Plakhotina N.A., Dugaev P.A. Diagnostic Utility of Spinal MR Angiography and Spinal MR Tractography in a Patient with Vascular Myelopathy. Regional blood circulation and microcirculation. 2026;25(1):93-97. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24884/1682-6655-2026-25-1-93-97

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ISSN 1682-6655 (Print)
ISSN 2712-9756 (Online)