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 neurofibroma
Spinal neurofibromas are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors, usually of the localized subtype.
This article specifically relates to spinal neurofibromas. For a general discussion of neurofibromas, including their epidemiology and pathology, refer to neurofibroma. For a discussion of the gene...
Article
Sacrum
The sacrum is the penultimate segment of the vertebral column and also forms the posterior part of the bony pelvis. It transmits the total body weight between the lower appendicular skeleton and the axial skeleton.
Gross anatomy
The sacrum is an irregularly-shaped bone, shaped roughly like an ...
Article
Cervical degenerative spondylosis (grading)
Cervical degenerative disease is extremely common. Cervical spondylosis can be graded using a very old but reliable classification devised by Jonas Kellgren et al 1,2. It is based on findings on a lateral cervical spine radiograph although it can also be applied to MRI evaluation of spine.
The ...
Article
Erosion of the odontoid process (differential)
Erosion of the odontoid peg can result from a number of pathological entities:
inflammatory arthropathy
rheumatoid arthritis: classic 1,2
systemic lupus erythematosus
crystal arthropathy
calcium pyrophosphate arthropathy (CPPD): relatively common
gout
non-inflammatory arthropathy: osteoar...
Article
Grisel syndrome
Grisel syndrome is a rare cause of torticollis that involves subluxation of atlanto-axial joint from inflammatory ligamentous laxity following an infectious process in the head and neck, usually a retropharyngeal abscess.
Epidemiology
It usually occurs in infants or young children.
Clinical p...
Article
Tight filum terminale syndrome
Tight filum terminale syndrome, or tight filum syndrome, is a subtype of the tethered cord syndrome that is attributed to a thick, short, and/or otherwise inelastic filum terminale rather than other tethering agents.
Terminology
The term "tight filum terminale syndrome" is synonymous with "tet...
Article
Kümmell disease
Kümmell disease is an eponymous name for delayed post-traumatic vertebral body collapse. The underlying pathogenesis is osteonecrosis.
Epidemiology
Risk factors
osteoporosis
corticosteroid use
alcoholism
radiation therapy
Pathology
Kümmell disease represents delayed (usually two weeks) v...
Article
Annulus fibrosus
The annulus fibrosus (plural: annuli fibrosi) surrounds the nucleus pulposus and together they form the intervertebral disc.
Gross anatomy
The annulus comprises 15 to 20 collagenous (type I) laminae which run obliquely from the edge of one vertebra down to the edge of the vertebra below. The d...
Article
Pseudomeningocele
Pseudomeningoceles are abnormal collections of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that occur due to a defect in the dura surrounding the brain and/or spinal cord. They most commonly occur as a result of trauma or surgery and can result in a variety of local or distant complications.
Epidemiology
Psuedo...
Article
Adjacent level ossification
Adjacent level ossification is a complication of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with anterior plate stabilization. It represents pathological heterotopic ossification of the soft tissues above or below the ends of the plate, contiguous with the adjacent vertebral body. It occurs ...
Article
Middle clunal nerve entrapment
Middle clunal nerve entrapment is a potential cause of low back pain. The middle clunal nerves travel beneath the long posterior sacroiliac ligament and this is a potential space for nerve entrapment 1.
Clinical presentation
Low back pain and leg pain can be caused by entrapment of these nerve...
Article
Subaxial cervical spine injury classification
The subaxial cervical spine injury classification (SLIC) system and severity score is a system for cervical spine trauma that helps guide treatment and predicts prognosis.
Classification
Three parameters are assessed, two being radiologic determined and the last being a clinical assessment 1.
...
Article
Tuli classification of occipital condyle fractures
The Tuli classification of occipital condyle fractures is a clinically-oriented system for describing these injuries based on fracture displacement and ligamentous injury. It is newer than the more well-known Anderson and Montesano classification of occipital condyle fractures and allows the inc...
Article
Spinal metastasis
Spinal metastasis is a vague term that can be variably taken to refer to metastatic disease to any of the following:
vertebral metastases (94%)
may have epidural extension
intradural extramedullary metastases (5%)
intramedullary metastases (1%)
Each of these are discussed separately. Below ...
Article
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a form of muscular dystrophy characterized by extremely variable degrees of facial, scapular and upper limb muscle involvement.
Epidemiology
It is considered one of the more common hereditary muscular disorders with a prevalence of ~1 in 8,000.
...
Article
Axial spondyloarthritis
Axial spondyloarthrititis (SpA) is a clinical subset of the seronegative spondyloarthritides that present primarily with back pain and morning stiffness. There is a long delay, on average 14 years, between symptoms onset and diagnosis 1.
Epidemiology
The prevalence of axial SpA is ~1% 1. Age o...
Article
Spinothalamic tracts
The spinothalamic tracts are ascending pathways in the spinal cord primarily concerned with sensory function. They are responsible for transmitting pain, temperature, coarse (non-discriminative) touch and pressure sensations 1.
Unlike other tracts main spinal tracts, the spinothalamic tracts de...
Article
Lateral spinothalamic tract
The lateral spinothalamic tract, also known as the lateral spinothalamic fasciculus, is an ascending pathway located anterolaterally within the peripheral white matter of the spinal cord. It is primarily responsible for transmitting pain and temperature as well as coarse touch.
The anterior sp...
Article
Anterior spinothalamic tract
The anterior spinothalamic tract, also known as the ventral spinothalamic fasciculus, is an ascending pathway located anteriorly within the spinal cord, primarily responsible for transmitting coarse touch and pressure.
The lateral spinothalamic tract (discussed separately), in contrast, primar...
Article
White matter tracts of the spinal cord
The spinal cord has numerous tracts of white matter that ascend and descend in the peripheral substance of the cord. They can be divided by their location and function:
anterolateral columns
anterior corticospinal tract
medial longitudinal fasiculus
spinothalamic tracts
lateral spinothalami...
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.