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
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) are the most common type of spinal vascular malformation, accounting for ~70% of all such lesions.
This article specifically relates to spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas. For a discussion of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas refer to the mai...
Article
Meningeal melanocytoma
Meningeal melanocytomas are rare benign primary melanocytic tumors of the CNS that are derived from leptomeningeal melanocytes. They can occur anywhere along the neuraxis but are most commonly found in the spinal canal near the foramen magnum, as well as the posterior cranial fossa, Meckel cave,...
Article
Retro-odontoid pseudotumor
Retro-odontoid pseudotumors, also known as periodontoid pseudotumors, are non-neoplastic soft tissue masses adjacent to the odontoid process (dens) of C2, which can cause cervicomedullary compression.
Epidemiology
The prevalence of retro-odontoid soft tissue thickening, particularly with miner...
Article
Hangman fracture
Hangman fracture, also known as traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis, is a fracture which involves the pars interarticularis of C2 on both sides, and is a result of hyperextension and distraction.
Epidemiology
These injuries account for 4-7% of all cervical spine fractures and up to 22% of ...
Article
Ganglioneuroma
Ganglioneuromas are fully differentiated neuronal tumors that do not contain immature elements and potentially occur anywhere along with the peripheral autonomic ganglion sites.
On imaging, usually, they present as well-defined solid masses and can be quite large at presentation. Generally, th...
Article
Spinal epidural abscess
Spinal epidural abscess represents infection of the epidural space, located between the spinal dura mater and the vertebral periosteum. It can present with rapidly deteriorating neurological function due to compression. Imaging is best performed with MRI and emergency surgery is often required. ...
Article
Jarcho-Levin syndrome
Jarcho-Levin syndrome, or spondylothoracic dysostosis, is a rare genetic disorder.
Terminology
Previously, spondylocostal dysostosis was considered part of the Jarcho-Levin syndrome spectrum.
Epidemiology
The exact prevalence of this disease is unknown.
Clinical presentation
It is primaril...
Article
Rim sign (spinal cord metastasis)
The rim sign has been described as a helpful MRI sign of spinal cord metastases, enabling them to be distinguished from other enhancing spinal cord lesions (e.g. ependymoma and astrocytoma).
Radiographic features
MRI
The rim sign is seen on sagittal post contrast T1 weighted imaging of the s...
Article
Flame sign (spinal cord metastasis)
The flame sign has been described as a helpful MRI sign of spinal cord metastases, enabling them to be distinguished from other enhancing spinal cord lesions (e.g. ependymoma, astrocytoma and hemangioblastoma) 1.
Radiographic features
MRI
The flame sign is seen on sagittal post contrast T1 w...
Article
Denver criteria for blunt cerebrovascular injury
The Denver criteria are a set of screening criteria used to determine when CT angiography of the neck is indicated to detect blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) in patients presenting after trauma.
Screening criteria
The Denver criteria were initially developed in 1996 1, modified in 2005 to ...
Article
Schmorl nodes
Schmorl nodes, also known as intravertebral disc herniations, refer to protrusions of the cartilage of the intervertebral disc through the vertebral body endplate and into the adjacent vertebra. The protrusions may contact the marrow of the vertebra, leading to inflammation.
Epidemiology
Quies...
Article
Discal cyst
Discal cysts (also known as a disk cyst or disc cyst) are uncommon lesions of the spine, representing an extrathecal cyst which communicates with the adjacent intervertebral disc through an annular fissure.
Epidemiology
The vast majority of discal cysts, as rare as they are, have been reporte...
Article
Klippel-Feil syndrome
Klippel-Feil syndrome is a complex heterogeneous entity that results in cervical vertebral fusion. Two or more non-segmented cervical vertebrae are usually sufficient for diagnosis.
Epidemiology
There is a recognized female predilection 1. Klippel-Feil syndrome has an incidence of 1:40,000-42,...
Article
Vertebral body endplate
Vertebral body endplates are anatomically discrete structures that form the interface between the vertebral bodies and the adjacent intervertebral discs. They are constituted centrally by a cartilaginous layer and peripherally by a bone ring apophysis. The cartilaginous layer is related to the n...
Article
Erector spinae muscles (mnemonic)
There are multiple handy mnemonics to recall the erector spinae muscles. They usually describe the position from lateral to medial.
I Like Standing
I Love Sex
I Long for Spinach
I Like Siri
Mnemonic
I: iliocostalis
L: longissimus
S: spinalis
Article
AO Spine classification of upper cervical injuries
The AO Spine classification of upper cervical injuries is a concise and comprehensive system for categorizing the spectrum of traumatic bony and ligamentous injuries involving the occipital condyles, atlas (C1), or axis (C2).
Usage
The AO Spine upper cervical classification system is relativel...
Article
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severe demyelinating diseases, which in seropositive cases, is caused by an autoantibody to the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel. The classic presentation of NMOSD is with the triad of bilateral optic neuritis, longitudinally extensive myelitis...
Article
Three column concept of spinal fractures
The three-column concept of thoracolumbar spinal fractures (of Denis) forms the basis of several widely used thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification systems.
Usage
While the three-column concept was initially developed for classifying thoracolumbar spinal fractures, it can also be applied...
Article
Scheuermann disease
Scheuermann disease, also known as juvenile kyphosis, juvenile discogenic disease 11, or vertebral epiphysitis, is a common condition which results in kyphosis of the thoracic or thoracolumbar spine. The diagnosis is usually made on plain radiograph.
Epidemiology
occurs in ~5% (range 0.4-8%) o...
Article
Osteoarthritis of the vertebral column
Osteoarthritis of the vertebral column, also known as spinal osteoarthritis, is so common that it is widely known as spinal "degenerative change". Complications such as spinal stenosis are important to recognize.
Radiographic features
Spinal osteoarthritis presents radiologically like other j...
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