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
Vertebral artery loop
Vertebral artery loops occur when a portion of the vertebral artery contains an unusual coil. It can be a rare anatomical variant or can be acquired.
Epidemiology
Vertebral artery loops tend to be mostly diagnosed in the 5th and 6th decades. Its prevalence is uncertain but is thought to be pre...
Article
Vertebra plana (mnemonic)
Mnemonics to remember the causes of vertebra plana include:
I MELT
FETISH
Mnemonics
I MELT
I: infection
M: metastasis/myeloma
E: eosinophilic granuloma
L: lymphoma/leukemia
T: trauma/tuberculosis
FETISH
F: fracture (trauma)
E: eosinophilic granuloma
T: tumor (e.g. metastases, myelom...
Article
Catheter-associated mass
Catheter-associated mass, also known as catheter tip granuloma, is a relatively rare complication related to an intrathecal catheter.
Terminology
Although the term catheter tip granuloma is commonly found in the literature, some favor the more general term catheter-associated mass as they actu...
Article
Intradural disc herniation
Intradural disc herniations occur when disc material related to an intervertebral disc hernia penetrates the spinal dura and lies in an intradural extramedullary location.
Epidemiology
Intradural disc herniations correspond to a rare presentation of a common pathology, comprising ~0.28% of all...
Article
Retrodural space of Okada
The retrodural space of Okada is a wishbone-shaped potential space which links the facet joints to each other at a single level across the midline, and thus acts as a potential pathway for the spread of injected material (contrast, air, steroid, local anesthetic) as well as infection.
Gross an...
Article
Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis
Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis is a type of spinal canal stenosis and has different epidemiology with less severe degenerative change compared to acquired/degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.
Epidemiology
Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis tends to affect patients at a younger age (30-50 ye...
Article
Ginkgo leaf sign (spinal meningioma)
The ginkgo leaf sign of spinal meningiomas has been described as a useful MRI sign in distinguishing a spinal meningioma from a neurogenic tumor (e.g. spinal schwannoma).
It is seen on axial post contrast T1 imaging, with the leaf representing the distorted spinal cord, pushed to one side of t...
Article
Spinal ganglioglioma
Spinal gangliogliomas are rare, comprising 1.1% of all spinal cord neoplasms 2. They are more frequent in children, representing 15% of intramedullary neoplasms in the pediatric age group 4.
This article specifically relates to spinal gangliogliomas. For a discussion on intracranial ganglioglio...
Article
Spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor
Spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are rare. Most cases are secondary to metastatic spread through the subarachnoid space from a primary intracranial tumor although rare cases of primary spinal PNETs have been reported.
This article specifically relates to spinal PNETs. For a discu...
Article
Spinal subependymoma
Spinal subependymomas are very rare low-grade tumors (WHO I) of the spinal cord. Like intracranial subependymomas, that are far more common, spinal subependymomas are slow-growing, discrete tumors with little if any contrast enhancement.
Epidemiology
Due to the small number of cases reported ...
Article
Spinal cord compression (summary)
This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists
Spinal cord compression is a surgical emergency and if unrecognised or untreated, can result in irreversible neurological damage and disability. If the spinal roots below the conus medullaris are involved, it is termed caud...
Article
Vertebral centroid angle
The vertebral centroid angle is considered an alternative to the Cobb angle especially in kyphosis and lordosis measurement. It is considered less susceptible to variations in the vertebral end-plate architecture 2.
Article
Intradural extramedullary spinal tumors (mnemonic)
Useful mnemonics to remember the differential diagnoses for intradural extramedullary spinal neoplasms include the following:
No More Spinal Masses
MNM
Mnemonics
No More Spinal Masses
N: neurofibroma
M: meningioma
S: schwannoma
M: metastasis
MnM
This simplified mnemonic, as in M&M cand...
Article
Meniscus sign (myelography)
The meniscus sign refers to the intradural filling defect which is outlined by the sharp meniscus of intrathecal contrast due to blockage of subarachnoid space by an intradural lesion. The CSF above the blocked segment remains unopacified.
Article
Accessory ossicle of the anterior arch of the atlas
The accessory ossicle of the anterior arch of the atlas is a normal variant and is best appreciated on a lateral cervical/sagittal study. It is observed as a circular and corticated osseous density that articulates with the inferior aspect of the anterior arch of the atlas.
It is not associate...
Article
Déjerine-Sottas disease
Déjerine-Sottas disease, also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type III or hypertrophic interstitial polyneuritis, is a rare hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN).
This syndrome should not be confused with Déjerine syndrome or Déjerine-Roussy syndrome.
Clinical present...
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
Swischuk line
The Swischuk line is helpful in differentiating pathological anterior displacement of the cervical spine from physiological displacement, termed pseudosubluxation.
Measurement
the line is drawn from anterior aspect of posterior arch of C1 to anterior aspect of posterior arch of C3
the anterio...
Article
Thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification systems
Thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification systems are numerous and represent attempts by various authors to create systems that allow uniform and reproducible classification and description of thoracolumbar fractures which in turn can help with treatment decision making and prognostication.
...
Article
Lateral meningocele syndrome
Lateral meningocele syndrome is an extremely rare hereditary connective tissue disorder characterized by multiple lateral lumbar meningoceles, distinctive facial features, joint hypermobility, hypotonia, skeletal abnormalities, congenital cardiovascular malformations, urogenital anomalies and ne...
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