Dorsal Column Lesions and Sensory Transmission

Anatomical and Physiological Basis

• The dorsal columns of the spinal cord primarily transmit proprioception, vibration sensation, and fine touch information from the periphery to the brain, as recommended by the American College of Radiology 1, 2.
• Dorsal column lesions can be detected using MRI, particularly in conditions like sensory ataxia where loss of proprioception is out of proportion to other sensory modalities, according to the American College of Radiology 3, 4.

Clinical Implications

• In patients with suspected dorsal column pathology, MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast is useful to evaluate the dorsal columns of the spinal cord, as suggested by the American College of Radiology 1, 3.
• Conditions affecting dorsal columns include compressive myelopathy, B12/copper deficiency, and tabes dorsalis neurosyphilis, as reported by the American College of Radiology 3.
• Sensory ataxia may result from dorsal column dysfunction, causing disequilibrium due to loss of proprioception, as noted by the American College of Radiology 1, 3.