Neurológia pre prax 1/2023

From degenerative compression of the cervical spinal cord towards degenerative cervical myelopathy

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a consequence of a degenerative disease of the cervical spine leading to stenosis of the cervical canal and eventually to compression of the cervical spinal cord. DCM involves about 2% of the population and despite all accessible therapeutic options it could lead to a significant disability. Signs of cervical spinal cord compression detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, end up in clinically symptomatic myelopathy in a smaller part of individuals with compression, while the rest remains without clinical symptoms and signs of cervical myelopathy – so called non-myelopathic degenerative cervical cord compression (NMDCC). The prevalence of NMDCC increases with age and in a population older than 60 years of age NMDCC involves at least one third of individuals. The review recapitulates current knowledge on a natural course of NMDCC, predictors of progression into DCM stage and a role of innovative quantitative MRI techniques in both research and practical management of degenerative cervical compression.

Keywords: degenerative cervical myelopathy, cervical spinal stenosis, non‑myelopathic degenerative cervical spinal cord compression, magnetic resonance imaging