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.
742 results found
Article
Facet joint
Facet joints, also known as apophyseal or zygapophyseal joints, are the synovial articulations of the posterior arch of the vertebrae and form part of the posterior column.
Gross anatomy
They are symmetrical synovial-lined joints with a fibrous capsule that connect the articular facets of the...
Article
Sacrococcygeal teratoma
Sacrococcygeal teratoma refers to a teratoma arising in the sacrococcygeal region. The coccyx is almost always involved 6.
Epidemiology
It is the most common congenital tumor in fetus 11 and neonate 3. The incidence is estimated at ~1:35,000-40,000. There is a recognized female predilection wi...
Article
Spondylolysis
Spondylolysis is a defect in the pars interarticularis of the neural arch, the portion of the neural arch that connects the superior and inferior articular facets. It is commonly known as pars interarticularis defect or more simply as pars defect.
Epidemiology
Spondylolysis is present in ~5% ...
Article
Baastrup disease
Baastrup disease or syndrome (also referred to as kissing spines) is a cause of low back pain characterized by interspinous bursitis and other degenerative changes of the bones and soft tissues where adjacent spinous processes in the lumbar spine rub against each other.
Epidemiology
It tends t...
Article
Leptomeningeal metastases
Leptomeningeal metastases, also known as carcinomatous meningitis and meningeal carcinomatosis, refers to the spread of malignant cells through the CSF space. These cells can originate from primary CNS tumors (e.g. in the form of drop metastases), as well as from distant tumors that have metasta...
Article
Extension teardrop fracture
Extension teardrop fracture typically occurs due to forced extension of the neck with resulting avulsion of the anteroinferior corner of the vertebral body. Extension teardrop fractures are stable in flexion and unstable in extension as the anterior longitudinal ligament is disrupted. Extension ...
Article
Atlas (C1)
The atlas (plural: atlases) is the first cervical vertebra, commonly called C1. It is an atypical cervical vertebra with unique features. It articulates with the dens of the axis and the occiput, respectively allowing rotation of the head, and flexion, extension and lateral flexion of the head. ...
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
Sandwich vertebral body
Sandwich vertebral body is a radiologic appearance in which the endplates are densely sclerotic, giving the appearance of a sandwich. This term and pattern are distinctive for benign adult autosomal dominant osteopetrosis.
Differential diagnosis
rugger jersey spine: sandwich vertebrae appears ...
Article
Rugger jersey spine (hyperparathyroidism)
Rugger jersey spine describes the prominent endplate densities at multiple contiguous vertebral levels to produce an alternating sclerotic-lucent-sclerotic appearance. This mimics the horizontal stripes of a rugby jersey.
This term and pattern are distinctive for hyperparathyroidism 1. However ...
Article
Dagger sign (spine)
The dagger sign is a radiographic feature seen in ankylosing spondylitis as a single central radiodense line on frontal radiographs related to ossification of the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments secondary to enthesitis 1. It is possible for the radiodense line to extend into the sacrum 2...
Article
Kümmell disease
Kümmell disease is an eponymous name for osteonecrosis and collapse of a vertebral body.
Epidemiology
Risk factors
osteoporosis
corticosteroid use
alcoholism
radiation therapy
Pathology
Kümmell disease represents delayed (usually two weeks) vertebral body collapse due to ischemia and non...
Article
Jefferson fracture
Jefferson fracture is the eponymous name given to a burst fracture of the atlas. It was originally described as a four-part fracture with double fractures through the anterior and posterior arches, but three-part and two-part fractures have also been described.
Epidemiology
Associations
50% a...
Article
Insufficiency fracture
Insufficiency fractures are a type of stress fracture, which are the result of normal stresses on abnormal bone. Looser zones are also a type of insufficiency fracture. They should not be confused with fatigue fractures which are due to abnormal stresses on normal bone, or with pathological frac...
Article
Scoliosis radiography
Scoliosis radiography is useful in identifying the degree of the scoliosis curvature (major/minor or primary/compensatory curves), as well as observing progression to determine the best treatment method 1.
Indications
Scoliosis radiographs are performed specifically when the disease is suspe...
Article
Uncovertebral joint
Uncovertebral joints, also called Luschka’s joints, are seen bilaterally between adjacent cervical vertebrae, identified by the cat ear shaped uncinate processes of the C3-7 vertebrae (C1 and C2 have no uncinate processes).
Gross anatomy
Articulations
The articulation forms between the uncina...
Article
Spondylosis
Spondylosis (plural: spondyloses) is used as a broad descriptive term referring to degeneration of the spinal column from any cause 1; it is usually further qualified by the part of the spine affected, e.g. cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis 1.
Pathophysiology
Spondylosis can be divid...
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
Vertebral metastases
Vertebral metastases represent the secondary involvement of the vertebral spine by hematogenously-disseminated metastatic cells. They must be included in any differential diagnosis of a spinal bone lesion in a patient older than 40 years.
This article will focus only on the metastasis involving...
Article
Prebasioccipital arch
The prebasioccipital arch is a rare anatomical variant of the occipital bone that is part of the spectrum of occipital vertebrae 1.
Epidemiology
The prebasioccipital arch is a very rare variant; one study reported a prevalence of 0.025% 2.
Clinical presentation
The prebasioccipital arch is a...
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