In many clinical cases of radicular pain, no noticeable neuropathology is detected by conventional medical imaging strategies. Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles were evaluated as magnetic resonance contrast agents to specifically detect neuroinflammation at sites of painful injury in a rat model of cervical nerve root compression. Two separate groups of rats were used: an injury group that underwent controlled transient compression of the dorsal root and a sham group that received the same surgical procedures but no injury. Precontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed 6 days after surgery, followed by administration of SPIO via tail vein injection. After 24 hours, T2*-weighted imaging at the site of root injury revealed a postcontrast enhancement of 72.9 +/- 31%. This was significantly greater than that of injured animals prior to SPIO administration (5.3 +/- 12.9%). SPIO did not generate any significant postcontrast enhancement in the nerve roots of the sham group. Histology confirmed colocalization of SPIO with macrophage at the injury site. These findings suggest that SPIO-enhanced MRI may be a valuable tool to identify otherwise undetectable nerve root compression and enable improved patient management
Keywords : Animals,complications,Dextrans,diagnosis,Disease Models,Animal,Inflammation,injuries,Macrophage Activation,Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Magnetite Nanoparticles,Male,methods,Pain,pathology,Radiculopathy,Rats,Spinal Nerve Roots,surgery,, Iron,Oxideenhanced,Magnetic,Resonance,Imaging, physical therapist london
Date of Publication : 2011 Jun
Authors : Thorek DL;Weisshaar CL;Czupryna JC;Winkelstein BA;Tsourkas A;
Organisation : Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Journal of Publication : Mol Imaging
Pubmed Link : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21496449
The London Spine Unit : Harley Street UK. Specialists in Cutting Edge Technologies for Spinal Surgery
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Russian
Spanish
Urdu