Fig. 4

Exemplary MR-images of irradiation-induced morphological alterations inside the spinal cord of two animals with paresis II after irradiation with photons or 12C-ions and their age-matched controls. Syrinx (pink arrows) and edema (green arrows) are indicated by hyperintense signals in the T2-weighted images of irradiated animals. T1-weighted images after contrast agent (CA) injection show CA accumulation in the spinal cord (blue asterisks) compared to native T1-weighted images. No CA accumulation was detected in the spinal cord of the age-matched non-irradiated controls