McRae line

Last revised by Frank Gaillard on 14 Jul 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Venkatesh M, Gaillard F, Jones J, et al. McRae line. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-25669

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-25669

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/25669

rID:

25669

Article created:

2 Nov 2013, Manchikanti Venkatesh

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Manchikanti Venkatesh had no recorded disclosures.

View Manchikanti Venkatesh's current disclosures

Last revised:

14 Jul 2022, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Frank Gaillard had the following disclosures:

Radiopaedia Australia Pty Ltd and Radiopaedia Events Pty Ltd, Director, Founder and CEO (Radiopaedia) (ongoing)
Biogen Australia Pty Ltd, Investigator-Initiated Research Grant for CAD software in multiple sclerosis: finished Oct 2021 (past)

These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Revisions:

14 times, by 9 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Central Nervous System, Head & Neck, Musculoskeletal, Spine

Tags:

craniometry, refs, stub, cases

Synonyms:

McRae's line

McRae line is a radiographic line drawn on a lateral skull radiograph or on a midsagittal section of CT or MRI that connects the anterior and posterior margins of the foramen magnum (basion to opisthion).

Significance

indicates the presence of basilar invagination (atlantoaxial impaction): the tip of the odontoid process is normally about 5 mm below this line; basilar invagination is diagnosed when the tip crosses this line
helps to measure the cerebellar tonsillar position: normal is above the foramen magnum