Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39853345›Full record

Observational studyNeuroradiology2025

Spinal cord cross sign: a potential marker for hereditary spastic paraplegia type 5.

Fan Zhang, Jianping Hu, Zebin Xiao, Chenlin Lin, Zhuoting Huang, Ning Wang, Ying Liu

Registry-linked trialAbstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Neuroradiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04006418 (A Registered Cohort Study on Spastic Paraplegia), which is not on this 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.

NCT04006418 recruitingnot on this map

A Registered Cohort Study on Spastic Paraplegia

Typeobservational_patient_registrySponsorWan-Jin ChenRan2019 to 2049Enrolled500ConditionsSpastic Paraplegia
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

7 authors.

Fan Zhang *Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 20, Chazhong Rd., Taijiang District, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, China.
Jianping Hu *Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 20, Chazhong Rd., Taijiang District, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, China.
Zebin XiaoDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
Chenlin LinDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 20, Chazhong Rd., Taijiang District, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, China.
Zhuoting HuangDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 20, Chazhong Rd., Taijiang District, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, China.
Ning WangDepartment of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of The First Affiliated, Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
Ying LiuDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 20, Chazhong Rd., Taijiang District, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, China. liuying840102@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9114-3426

Funding

Joint Funds for the Innovation of Science and Technology, Fujian Province No.2021Y9097National Natural Science Foundation of China U2005201Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province NO.2022J05142Startup Fund for Scientific Research of Fujian Medical University NO.2023QH1154
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeSpastic paraplegia type 5 (SPG5) is a rare neurodegenerative disease diagnosed primarily through genetic testing.We identified a specific spinal cord sign on conventional MR imaging to help narrow the scope of genetic screening.

methodsIn 25 patients with SPG5 and 21 healthy controls (HCs), the spinal cord cross sign was evaluated on T2*-weighted imaging. The morphological and signal characteristics of the dorsal column (DC), ventral funiculi (VF), dorsal horn (DH), ventral horn (VH), and intermediate zone (IMZ) were assessed. Differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) values within specific regions between HC and SPG5 were tested using Student's t-test. Spearman correlation was used to evaluate associations between cross-sign scores, FA values, and clinical indicators.

resultsThe cross sign was detected in the cervical spinal cord of all SPG5 patients. The occurrence of T2 hyperintensity in the DC, VF and IMZ was 100%,100% and 88%,respectively. Bilateral VH morphology was normal in 14.4% of cases, blurred in 49.6%, and absent in 36%.Bilateral DH morphology was normal in 13.6%, blurred in 56%, and absent in 30.4%. FA values were reduced in these spinal cord regions. Cross-sign scores were negatively correlated with FA values in both grey (r = -0.70~-0.37) and white matter (r = -0.78~-0.70). Cross-sign scores were positively correlated with Spastic Paraplegia Rating Scale (r = 0.57) and disease duration (r = 0.42).

conclusionThe spinal cord cross sign was a potential imaging marker for SPG5. Cross-sign scores were associated with disease duration and severity in SPG5 patients.

trial registrationA Registered Cohort Study on Spastic Paraplegia,NCT04006418 Registered 1 July 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04006418 .

Indexed as

Magnetic Resonance ImagingSpastic Paraplegia, HereditarySpinal CordAdolescentAdultBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedBiomarkersCross signFractional anisotropyHereditary spastic paraplegiaSpinal cord

Identifiers

PMID39853345

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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 OpenQuestion graph.