Articles
Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.
More than 200 results
Article
Cervical disc replacement
A cervical disc replacement (also known as a spacer) is a prosthesis surgically inserted in the native disc space. It is invariably inserted for symptomatic cervical spondylosis.
Disc replacements can be placed either in isolation or along with anterior fixation.
The appearances are varied wi...
Article
Thoracic spine (lateral view)
The thoracic spine lateral view images the thoracic spine, which consists of twelve vertebrae.
Indications
This projection is utilized in many imaging contexts including trauma, postoperatively, and for chronic conditions. It can help to visualize any compression fractures, subluxation or kyph...
Article
Dorsal cord syndrome
Dorsal cord syndrome, also known as posterior spinal cord syndrome, is one of the incomplete cord syndromes resulting from pathology affecting the posterior part of the spinal cord, particularly the dorsal columns and potentially (in larger lesions) the lateral corticospinal tracts 1.
Clinical...
Article
Translation-rotation spine injury
Translation-rotation spine injuries are severe injuries characterized by horizontal displacement or rotation of one vertebral body with respect to another.
Pathology
These injuries result from torsional and shear forces. This type of injury is usually severe and involves the posterior ligament...
Article
Transverse process fracture
Transverse process fractures are common sequelae of trauma, although they are considered minor and stable lumbar spine fractures. There is a strong association between transverse process fractures and other traumatic injuries.
Pathology
Transverse process fracture most commonly occurs in the u...
Article
Lumbar spine (flexion and extension views)
The lumbar spine flexion and extension views images the lumbar spine which consists of five vertebrae.
Indications
These views are specialized projections to provide functional tests 1 of lumbar spine instability, often in the context of spondylolisthesis.
Patient position
the patient is pos...
Article
Y sign (epidural lipomatosis)
The Y sign refers to a common appearance in lumbar epidural lipomatosis where excess fat in the extradural space compresses the dural sac into the shape of the letter "Y".
NB: Y sign also refers to the appearance of incudomalleolar disarticulation on CT, more commonly known to radiologists as t...
Article
Intradural extramedullary spinal tumors
Intradural extramedullary neoplasms are located outside the spinal cord but within the dural sheath.
Epidemiology
The majority (70-80%) of spinal canal tumors are intradural extramedullary 1.
Clinical presentation
Patients present with signs and symptoms of spinal cord or nerve root compres...
Article
Spinal nerve sheath tumors
Spinal nerve sheath tumors are the most common intradural extramedullary masses.
This article is an overview of spinal nerve sheath tumors. For a discussion on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathology and treatment/prognosis of spinal schwannomas and neurofibromas, please refer to spi...
Article
Spinal astrocytoma
Spinal astrocytomas are the second most common spinal cord tumor, representing 40% of intramedullary tumors 3. They account for 60% of pediatric intramedullary tumors, making them the most common spinal cord tumor in children 6.
This article specifically relates to spinal astrocytomas. For a di...
Article
Cerebrospinal fluid leak
Cerebrospinal fluid leakage can occur at numerous sites and may be clinically occult, or result in various clinical presentations depending on the site and rate of leakage.
Epidemiology
The epidemiology of individuals with CSF leak will vary greatly according to the wide range of etiologies, w...
Article
Sugar coating
So-called "sugar coating" or zuckerguss (German for sugar icing) refers to the appearance of diffuse linear/sheetlike leptomeningeal contrast enhancement in the brain or spinal cord due to drop metastases or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. It is seen both as a result of CNS involvement from dista...
Article
Spinal pilocytic astrocytoma
Although rare, pilocytic astrocytomas are the most common spinal cord tumors in the pediatric population.
This article specifically relates to spinal pilocytic astrocytomas. For a discussion on intracranial pilocytic astrocytomas refer to pilocytic astrocytoma. For a general discussion on spina...
Article
Intradural spinal mass lesions (an approach)
Intradural spinal mass lesions are relatively uncommon, compared to intracranial or extradural masses, and can be challenging to diagnose. Additionally, the need for a pre-operative/non-operative diagnosis is in many ways greater as biopsy of lesions within the cord has the potential of devastat...
Article
Neoplasms of the cauda equina (differential)
The differential diagnosis for masses of the cauda equina region is often considered separately to the remainder of the spinal cord. It is often difficult to determine whether masses in this region are intramedullary or intradural-extramedullary.
Most common tumors
myxopapillary ependymoma
by...
Article
AO Spine classification of thoracolumbar injuries
The AO Spine classification of thoracolumbar injuries is a commonly used thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification system 1,2.
The AO Spine system (2013) supercedes the more complex and less reproducible AO Magerl classification 3. Unlike the other widely used system, the thoracolumbar injur...
Article
Occipital condyle fracture
Occipital condylar fractures are uncommon injuries usually resulting from high-energy blunt trauma. They are considered a specific type of basilar skull fracture, and importantly can be seen along with craniocervical dissociation.
Treatment of isolated injury is generally conservative, unless t...
Article
Supraodontoid space
The supraodontoid space, also known as the supradental space or apical cave, is an extradural space at the anterior craniocervical junction superior to the odontoid process of C2 (dens axis).
Gross anatomy
Boundaries
The space is a cave-shaped region facing posteriorly with the following boun...
Article
Persistent ossiculum terminale
The ossiculum terminale appears as a secondary ossification center of the dens between 3-6 years and normally fuses by 12 years. Failure of fusion results in a persistent ossiculum terminale (also called Bergmann's ossicle or ossiculum terminale of Bergmann) and is considered a normal anatomical...
Article
Split atlas
Split or bipartite atlas is the rare congenital anomaly where the atlas is split into two halves by fusion defects in both the anterior and posterior arches. The osseous defects are spanned by fibrous tissue.
They are usually asymptomatic and found incidentally on spinal imaging. Patients may h...
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