Proposing a Framework to Understand the Role of Imaging in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Enhancement of MRI Protocols Needed for Accurate Diagnosis and Evaluation.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common form of spinal cord impairment in adults. APPLICATION OF NEUROIMAGING FRAMEWORK IN DCM In DCM, cervical spine imaging, and in particular MRI, is essential for the diagnosis and is not optional, as spinal canal narrowing is a prerequisite for spinal cord compression. ADVANCED NEUROIMAGING: FROM SPINAL STENOSIS TO MEASURES OF SPINAL CORD DISTRESS To enhance the utility of cervical spine MRI, several advanced neuroimaging methods are in various stages of translation.[17] Their entry into clinical practice may adjust the role of MRI in the diagnosis of DCM, for example, to rule in a diagnosis of DCM. [Extracted from the article]