Delineation of the white and gray matter of the normal human cervical spinal cord using diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging

To delineate the white and gray matter of the normal human cervical spinal cord, diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging (DW-EPI) was performed in 11 healthy volunteers. Three axial (X-, Y- and Z-axis) anisotrophic diffusion-weighted images were obtained on a 1.5 T superconducting clinical unit using a single-shot DW-EPI sequence. On X- and Y-axis DWIs the white and gray matter could be well differentiated: the former showed high intensity and the latter low intensity. Anterior columns were clearly visible, whereas posterior columns were not. On Z-axis DWI the white and gray matter could not be differentiated at all, because both showed low intensity. In conclusion, DW-EPI can clearly delineate the white and gray matter of the cervical spinal cord, and this technique will be useful to evaluate white matter disorders such as ischemic or demyelinating disease. (author)