Test-retest reliability across rostrocaudal levelsa
| Level | Metric | Healthy | DCM | P Value | Pooled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rostral (C1–C3) | FA | 2.5 ± 2.0% | 2.8 ± 1.8% | .71 | 2.6 ± 1.9% |
| MTR | 2.7 ± 1.9% | 1.3 ± 0.5% | .17 | 2.4 ± 1.9% | |
| T2*WI WM/GM | 0.9 ± 0.6% | 1.0 ± 0.7% | .77 | 0.9 ± 0.7%b | |
| Midcervical (C4–C5) or MCL | FA | 3.0 ± 2.2% | 5.0 ± 5.7% | .21 | 3.6 ± 3.6% |
| MTR | 3.2 ± 3.0% | 6.1 ± 0.9% | .08c | 3.7 ± 3.2% | |
| T2*WI WM/GM | 1.4 ± 1.1% | 3.5 ± 2.2% | .11 | 2.9 ± 2.2% | |
| Caudal (C6–C7) | FA | 2.2 ± 1.6% | 4.6 ± 4.7% | .07c | 3.2 ± 3.5% |
| MTR | 4.4 ± 3.8% | 3.1 ± 3.9% | .56 | 4.2 ± 3.7% | |
| T2*WI WM/GM | 3.4 ± 3.0% | 2.2 ± 2.1% | .37 | 2.6 ± 2.4% |
↵a TRCOV ± SD is displayed for healthy subjects and those with DCM at rostral (C1–C3), midcervical (C4–5), or maximally compressed levels in subjects with DCM, and caudal (C6–C7) levels. Sample size was 26 subjects (17 healthy, 9 with DCM) for DTI, 17 subjects (13 healthy, 4 with DCM) for MT, and 16 subjects (5 healthy, 11 with DCM) for T2*WI.
↵b Significant differences (P < .05) between pooled TRCOV of metrics at each level.
↵c Trends (P < .10) in reliability between healthy subjects and those with DCM for each level/metric, and pooled reliability was calculated if no significant differences were found.