Contribution of Myélo-Computed Tomography in the assessment of slow spinal cord compressions: Retrospective study of 33 cases in Niamey

Purpose: To describe the contribution of Myélo-computed tomography during the assessment of slow spinal cord compressions and to determine the etiological profile. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, analytical and descriptive study of 33 cases collected in the radiology and imaging department of the National Hospital of Niamey (HNN) over a period of 14 months (from 31/12/2015 to 10/02/2017). Were included in the study all patients with slow spinal cord compression occurred in a non-traumatic setting, admitted to the service for a Myélo-computed tomography. Results: The mean age of the patients was 47.03 years with extremes ranging from 27 to 75 years. The 30-35 age group was the most affected with 23.2% of cases. In our study, Myélo-computed tomography detected medullary compression in 33 patients (33%). The extra-dural compartment was the most common site of slow medullary compression with 97% and intra dural extra marrow with 3%. The dorsal spine was the most affected stage by slow spinal compression with 52% followed by the cervical (27%) and lumbar (22%) stage. Infectious pathology was the most common cause of spinal cord compression with a frequency of 63.6%, followed by degenerative (27.3%) and tumoral (9.1%) pathology. Conclusion: Myélo-computed tomography plays an important role in topographic and etiologic diagnosis of slow spinal cord compression in the absence of MRI.