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

Spondylodiscitis

Spondylodiscitis, (rare plural: spondylodiscitides) also referred to as discitis-osteomyelitis, is characterized by infection involving the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebrae. Terminology In adults, the use of the term discitis is generally discouraged as isolated infection of the spin...
Article

Systemic lupus erythematosus (CNS manifestations)

Central nervous system manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (CNS lupus), also known as neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), describe a very diverse range of neuropsychiatric manifestations that are secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the central nervous...
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Ligamentum nuchae

The ligamentum nuchae or nuchal ligament is a large median ligament composed of tendons and fascia located between the posterior muscles of the neck. Gross anatomy The ligament nuchae covers the spines of C1 to C6 vertebrae. It is a superior and posterior extension of the supraspinous ligament...
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Disc bulge

A disc bulge represents displacement of the outer fibers of the annulus fibrosus beyond the margins of the adjacent vertebral bodies, involving more than one-quarter (25% or 90°) of the circumference of an intervertebral disc 3. Because it is limited by the annulus fibrosus it does not extend ab...
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Chordoma

Chordomas are uncommon malignant tumors of the axial skeleton that account for 1% of intracranial tumors and 4% of all primary bone tumors.  They originate from embryonic remnants of the primitive notochord (earliest fetal axial skeleton, extending from the Rathke's pouch to the tip of the cocc...
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Modic type endplate changes

Modic type endplate changes represent a classification for vertebral body endplate MRI signal changes, first described in 1988 1. It is widely recognized by radiologists and clinicians and is a useful shorthand for reporting MRIs of the spine. Modic type 1 has received renewed attention due to ...
Article

Rule of Spence

The Rule of Spence is a radiologic method to evaluate the likelihood of injury to the transverse atlantal ligament (TAL) on an open mouth AP (“peg”) radiograph. As originally framed, if the combined projection of the lateral masses of the atlas is more than 6.9 mm beyond the lateral masses of th...
Article

Spinal epidermoid cyst

Spinal epidermoid cysts are cystic tumors lined by squamous epithelium. Unlike dermoid cysts, they do not contain skin appendages (hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands). They are usually extramedullary but rarely can be intramedullary. They may be congenital or acquired. This article ...
Article

Bilateral facet dislocation

A bilateral facet dislocation is an unstable flexion distraction type of dislocation of the cervical spine, often a result of buckling force. Occasionally, the bilateral facet dislocation has been named a 'doubly-locked' vertebral injury giving the impression of stability. However, due to comple...
Article

Shiny corner sign (ankylosing spondylitis)

The shiny corner sign is a spinal finding in ankylosing spondylitis, representing reactive sclerosis secondary to inflammatory erosions at the superior and inferior endplates (corners on lateral radiograph) of the vertebral bodies, which are known as Romanus lesions. Eventually, the vertebral bo...
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Romanus lesion (vertebral bodies)

The Romanus lesion represents an early finding in inflammatory spondyloarthropathies, such as ankylosing spondylitis and enteropathic arthritis, and appears as irregularity and erosion involving the anterior and posterior edges of the vertebral endplates 1. Healing response to these inflammatory...
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

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (less commonly known as Bechterew disease or Marie-Strümpell disease) is a seronegative spondyloarthropathy, which results in fusion (ankylosis) of the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints, although involvement is also seen in large and small joints. Epidemiology Traditional...
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Paracondylar process

The paracondylar process, also known as the paraoccipital, paramastoid, parajugular or estiloid process, is a rare anatomical variant of the occipital where a bony exostosis extends caudally from the paracondylar region (lateral to the native occipital condyles), typically articulating with the ...
Article

Disc protrusion

Disc protrusions are a type of disc herniation characterized by protrusion of disc content beyond the normal confines of the intervertebral disc, over a segment less than 25% of the circumference of the disc. The width of the base is wider than the largest diameter of the disc material which pro...
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 water channel. The classic presentation of NMOSD is with the triad of optic neuritis, longitudinally extensive myelitis, and positive an...
Article

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis (plural: spondylolistheses) denotes the slippage of one vertebra relative to the one below.  Terminology Although etymologically, it is directionless (see below) and could be applied to both anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis, in practice, spondylolisthesis is used synonymous...
Article

Epidural spinal cord compression scale

The epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) scale, sometimes known eponymously as the Bilsky scale, is used to assess the degree to which vertebral body metastasis compromises the spinal canal and whether cord compression is present. It may serve as a guide as to when intervention (radiotherapy ...
Article

CT myelography

CT myelography (CTM) is a myelography technique used mainly to assess for potential spinal canal stenosis when MRI is contraindicated or when dynamic imaging is required. History CT myelography was first performed in 1976 2 and became the gold standard for imaging the spinal canal and cord unt...
Article

Facet joint injection

Facet (zygapophyseal) joint injections are performed primarily for the diagnosis and differentiation of facet syndrome and radicular pain syndrome, and are one of the spinal interventional procedures. They can be performed under fluoroscopic, or CT image guidance, and cervical, thoracic or most ...

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