Diffusion Imaging of the Spinal Cord Clinical Applications

center dot The highly anisotropic and coherently oriented structure of white matter in the spinal cord is ideally suitedfor interrogating tissue integrity with diffusion imaging techniques. center dot The spine and its surrounding anatomy present unique challenges to high-quality diffusion imaging of the spinal cord, thus familiarity with technical advancements for image optimization are key to successful incorporation of diffusion imaging in clinical spine protocols. center dot Diffusion imaging offers promise for increasing sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of many spinal cord pathologic conditions; however, more well-designed, prospective clinical studies are needed to further validate its routine utilization in many clinical settings.