Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40751841›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026

Utility of diffusion tensor imaging and tractography (DTI/DTT) in the surgical resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors: A scoping review.

A Aravin Kumar, John J Y Zhang, Robin Pillay, Nicole C H Keong

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

A Aravin KumarNational Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore. aravin.kumar@mohh.com.sg.
John J Y ZhangNational Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
Robin PillayNational Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
Nicole C H KeongNational Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography (DTT) are advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques which have gained traction in spinal cord injury and degenerative cervical myelopathy for being able to predict functional outcomes. Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) are a challenging disease entity, for which surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Despite technological advances, post-operative neurological deficits are common. We conducted a scoping review with the aim of understanding the use of DTI and DTT in aiding surgical management of IMSCTs.

methodsA systematic search was conducted for studies on IMSCT patients, between the years 2000 to 2024. All quantitative MRI techniques were included in the search parameters, but only DTI and DTT were used for surgically treated IMSCTs. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select for appropriate articles.

resultsSixteen studies related to DTI and DTT use in surgically managed IMSCTs were included for analysis. There was agreement amongst authors of the benefits of DTI and DTT in delineating the cleavage plane between tumor and cord, operative suitability and demarcating fiber tracts to avoid intra-operative injury. Studies that performed intraoperative neuromonitoring found that electrophysiological findings were concordant with tractography findings of tract disruption. Two studies used DTI and DTT intra-operatively with preservation of fiber tracts.

conclusionThe use of DTI and DTT in the surgical treatment of IMSCTs is able to classify tumors, identify fiber tracts and aid intra-operatively to avoid damage to eloquent anatomy but has yet to be shown to improve functional outcomes.

Indexed as

Diffusion Tensor ImagingSpinal Cord NeoplasmsHumansDiffusion tensor imagingDiffusion tractographyIntramedullary spinal cord neoplasmMagnetic resonance imagingNeuronavigationSpinal cord tumors

Identifiers

PMID40751841

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.