Volumetric and functional connectivity alterations in patients with chronic cervical spondylotic pain

Purpose To explore the structural and functional alterations of the whole brain in patients with chronic cervical spondylotic pain (cCSP). Methods The whole-brain three-dimensional (3D) T1 and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired in 31 patients with cCSP and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. 3D T1 and rs-fMRI data were processed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and data processing and analysis of brain imaging (DPABI) toolbox. The parametric differences of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) were calculated between groups, then these measures were correlated with the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and other clinical indices in patients with cCSP. Results Patients with cCSP exhibited reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the right middle cingulate cortex (MCC), right superior temporal gyrus (STG) and right precuneus compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, patients with cCSP displayed decreased functional connectivity between the right precuneus and bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Additionally, GMV of the right MCC, right STG, and right precuneus, together with rs-FC of the right precuneus to bilateral mPFC, were negatively correlated with the VAS respectively. Conclusions Our study revealed cerebral morphological and functional abnormalities during the pain process in patients with cCSP, which may provide alternative information for the treatment of cCSP.