Pancake sign

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 2 Aug 2023

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Lodhi T, Sharma R, Lim L, Pancake sign. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 May 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-172688

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-172688

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/172688

rID:

172688

Article created:

28 Jul 2023, Taha Lodhi

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Taha Lodhi had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Taha Lodhi's current disclosures

Last revised:

2 Aug 2023, Rohit Sharma ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Rohit Sharma had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Rohit Sharma's current disclosures

Revisions:

3 times, by 3 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Spine, Central Nervous System

Sections:

Signs

Synonyms:

pancake-like sign

The pancake sign represents flat, tranverse gadolinium enhancement at the midpoint of a hyperintense, spindle-shaped T2 signal and is seen on sagittal and axial MR imaging ¹. The axial corollary is formed by circumferential enhancement with sparing the spinal gray matter ². Of note, the enhancement spans less than one vertebral body and is localized immediately below the point of maximal stenosis.

Although frequently described as a pattern seen in spondylotic myelopathy, the pancake sign may also be seen in pathologies involving focal disruption of the blood-brain barrier ².

While clinical myelopathy may help to make the diagnosis of spondylotic myelopathy, spinal cord enhancement may be due to other etiologies including ^1,3,4: