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.
740 results found
Article
Spinal subarachnoid space
The spinal subarachnoid space is the space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater in the spine and is continuous with the intracranial subarachnoid space.
It communicates with the intracranial subarachnoid space via the foramen magnum and ends at the level of the S2 vertebra. It is a relat...
Article
Atypical lumbar vertebrae
Of the five lumbar vertebrae, L5 is considered atypical due to its shape. The remaining lumbar vertebrae are largely typical.
For a basic anatomic description of the structure a generic vertebra, see vertebrae.
Article
Ventral horn
The ventral horn of the spinal cord is one of the grey longitudinal columns found within the spinal cord. It contains the cell bodies of the lower motor neurons which have axons leaving via the ventral spinal roots on their way to innervate muscle fibers.
Gross anatomy
On transverse section of...
Article
Olisthesis
Olisthesis, also known as the etymologically less correct listhesis, means slipping or sliding.
Pathology
Types include:
anterolisthesis
spondylolisthesis
spondylolisthesis grading
retrolisthesis
Article
Fibrocartilaginous embolism
Fibrocartilaginous embolism (also known as nucleus pulposus embolism) is a rare cause of spinal cord ischemia due to embolization of nucleus pulposus material from intervertebral disc in a retrograde direction into a spinal artery or vein.
Fibrocartilaginous embolism is a diagnosis of suspicion...
Article
Hematomyelia
Hematomyelia refers to the presence of intramedullary hemorrhage or hematoma within the spinal cord. This is distinct from extramedullary hemorrhage such as that seen in epidural hematoma.
Pathology
Although hematomyelia can occur in the setting of trauma, the term is generally used to signify...
Article
Clasp-knife deformity
Clasp-knife deformity is relatively common congenital anomaly found at the lumbosacral junction.
Terminology
When a clasp-knife deformity is accompanied by pain on extension secondary to protrusion of the enlarged spinous process (knife blade) into the sacral spinal canal, it is called clasp-k...
Article
Lhermitte sign (spinal cord)
Lhermitte sign or the barber chair phenomenon is an electrical shock sensation running down the spine and into the limb on neck flexion. It suggests compression of the upper cervical spinal cord and/or brainstem.
Pathology
It is typically seen with multiple sclerosis but is also associated wit...
Article
Movements of the spine
Movements of the spine are possible due to intervertebral discs, and with the fulcrum of movement occurring primarily around the nucleus pulposus. Specialized motion occurs at the atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial joints, which do not contain a disc.
The spine (vertebral column) forms the cent...
Article
Dumbbell appearance of spinal tumors
The dumbbell appearance of spinal tumors refers to a tumor which has both a component within the canal and a component in the paravertebral space contiguous with each other via a thinner tumor component traversing the neural exit foramen.
The appearance can be seen in:
spinal nerve sheath tumo...
Article
Tuberculosis (musculoskeletal manifestations)
Musculoskeletal tuberculosis is always secondary to a primary lesion in the lung.
Epidemiology
The prevalence of the disease is around 30 million globally and 1-3% of the 30 million have involvement of their bones and/or joints. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for almost all of the c...
Article
Difference in vertical mid-vertical angle (lumbar spine)
The difference in vertical mid-vertical angle is the difference in the vertical mid-vertebral angle (VMVA) between the caudal segment angle and the adjacent cephalad segment angle of the three most caudal segments of the lumbar spine as measured on a mid-sagittal MRI or a lateral radiograph.
Ra...
Article
Congenital absence of a spine pedicle
Congenital absence of a spine pedicle is a rare congenital condition, but awareness of its characteristic imaging appearance is important to avoid misdiagnosis.
Failure to recognize this entity can lead to misdiagnosis of unilateral facet subluxation/dislocation, leading to unnecessary treatmen...
Article
Vanishing vertebrae
Vanishing vertebrae is a rare ischemic manifestation of sickle cell disease, in which a completely infarcted vertebral body literally disappears or vanishes, as a result of infarction. In the few reported cases, the posterior elements remain intact.
See also
codfish or h-shaped vertebrae
ante...
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
Facet joint capsule
Facet joint capsules are the fibrous capsule that surround the vertebral facet or zygapophyseal joints. They are particularly thin and loose, attached to the margins of articular facets on adjoining articular processes. The capsules merge medially with the ligamentum flavum.
In the cervical re...
Article
Lumbar disc disease
Lumbar disc disease is a very common entity with a high asymptomatic prevalence. Intervertebral disc abnormalities are found in 25% of individuals below the age of 60, and over 50% in those over the age of 60. It is therefore not enough to demonstrate a disc lesion in someone with non-specific b...
Article
Anterior horn syndrome
Anterior horn syndrome is a fairly generic term used to refer to flaccid paralysis and areflexia due to involvement of the anterior grey matter horns of the spinal cord. Sensation is typically preserved.
Causes of anterior horn syndrome include:
anterior spinal artery ischemia
poliomyeliti...
Article
Intertransverse ligaments
The intertransverse ligaments consist of fibrous tissue joining transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae. In the cervical region, intertransverse ligaments are scattered fibers that are largely replaced by intertransverse muscles. In the thoracic region, these are fibrous cords blending with t...
Article
Low endplate signal on T1
Several conditions may give vertebral endplate T1 low signal on MRI. They include:
ankylosing spondylitis
vertebral metastases
disc infection
haemodialysis
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