PMC5804665_01
a Sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan through the thoracic spinal cord obtained on postoperative day 2 showing abnormal T2 high signal intensity from the Th3 to Th8 levels (arrow). b Axial T2-weighted image showing high signal intensity in the anterior horn of the gray matter (owl's eye) at the Th5 level (arrow)
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PMC5804665_01_40981_2017_138_Fig1_HTML.jpg
Fig1
The T2-weighted images of MRI scan showed an abnormal signal within the spinal cord, extending from the Th3 to Th8 levels, which was consistent with an SCI (Fig. 1a, b), but no hematoma or abscess (which could have compressed the spinal cord) was found. Especially, there was the "owl's eye" appearance in the axial view (Fig. 1b), which is specific for infarction of the anterior horn. T2 hyperintensity and enhancement on such scans. Tumors, myelitis, and demyelination also produce abnormal T2 hyperintensity, but in the present case, we were able to rule out those because of the clinical course of the patient's conditions and "owl's eye" appearance in the axial view of T2-weighted imaging (Fig. 1b).