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 levels (anatomical landmarks)
Many vertebral levels are associated with key anatomical landmarks. Below is a summary of vertebral levels and associated internal or surface anatomy. Please note that some texts differ slightly on certain levels and levels may be altered by patient positioning (supine versus erect) and patient ...
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
Vertebral pneumatocyst
Vertebral pneumatocysts are gas-filled cavities within the spinal vertebrae. They are most common at cervical levels. In general, vertebral pneumatocysts are less common than intraosseous pneumatocysts in the pelvis, especially adjacent to the sacroiliac joint.
Pathogenesis
Although not comple...
Article
Vertebral scalloping
Vertebral scalloping is a concavity to the posterior (or less commonly anterior) aspect of the vertebral body when viewed in a lateral projection. A small amount of concavity is normal, as is concavity of the anterior vertebral body (see vertebral body squaring).
Posterior scalloping
Causes of...
Article
Vertebral vascular foramen
Vertebral vascular foramina, also known as Hahn canal or cleft, are normal findings seen on cross-sectional imaging and should not be mistaken for a fracture, especially in the setting of trauma. They transmit:
basivertebral veins (forms Hahn's canal): foramen is seen on the posterior surface o...
Article
Vertebral venous plexus
The vertebral venous plexus is a highly anastomotic network of valveless veins running along the entire length of the vertebral column from the foramen magnum to the sacral hiatus.
Gross anatomy
The vertebral venous plexus is comprised of three interconnected divisions:
internal vertebral ven...
Article
Vertebra plana
Vertebra plana (plural: vertebrae planae), also known as the pancake, silver dollar or coin-on-edge vertebra, is the term given when a vertebral body has lost almost its entire height anteriorly and posteriorly, representing a very advanced compression fracture.
Pathology
It can occur in a var...
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
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
Vertebroplasty and its balloon-assisted variant, kyphoplasty, are imaging-guided procedures that involve percutaneous injection of surgical polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement into a diseased vertebral body. Vertebroplasty provides pain relief and strengthens the bone of vertebrae weakened by d...
Article
Vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) procedure
Vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) procedure is a surgical technique that was initially developed to treat thoracic insufficiency syndrome and then it was used in congenital scoliosis with rib abnormalities, and has since been successfully used to treat early-onset scoliosis wit...
Article
Von Hippel-Lindau disease
Von Hippel-Lindau (vHL) disease is characterized by the development of numerous benign and malignant tumors in different organs (at least 40 types 1) due to mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 3.
Epidemiology
The disease is rare with an estimated prevalence of 1:35,000-50,...
Article
V sign (disambiguation)
Signs inspired by the letter V have been described in several different pathologies:
inverted V sign (pneumoperitoneum)
inverted V sign (spinal cord)
Naclerio V sign (pneumomediastinum)
V sign (interphalangeal joint subluxation)
V sign (midbrain)
Article
Wackenheim line
The Wackenheim line, also known as the clivus canal line or basilar line, can be used to assess for atlanto-occipital dissociation.
Measurement
The Wackenheim line is the caudal extension of a line drawn along the posterior cortex of the clivus on lateral cervical spine radiographs 1.
Interpr...
Article
Whiplash syndrome
Whiplash syndrome, also known as whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), are the various symptoms caused by rapid acceleration and/or deceleration injuries, which result in cervical sprain or strain.
Epidemiology
Whiplash is a common injury, usually associated with motor vehicle collisions 1-5. T...
Article
White cord syndrome
White cord syndrome refers to the sudden onset of neurological deterioration following spinal decompressive surgery. The condition is believed to be a form of reperfusion injury of the spinal cord, not to be confused with central cord syndrome.
Epidemiology
White cord syndrome is rare with onl...
Article
White matter
The white matter (TA: substantia alba) is the substance of the brain and spinal cord that contains the fiber tracts of neuronal axons in the central nervous system. The term is due to the paler color of the lipid-rich myelin that encases the axons in the tracts compared to the grey matter, which...
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...
Article
WHO classification of CNS tumors
The WHO classification of CNS tumors is the most widely accepted system for classifying CNS tumors, now into its 5th edition, traditionally published in a blue cover (thus "blue book").
Although traditionally based on histological characteristics of the tumors, since the 2016 revised 4th editio...
Article
Widening of interpedicular distance
The interpedicular distance, which is the distance measured between the pedicles on frontal/coronal imaging, can be widened in a number of situations.
Pathology
Etiology
diastematomyelia
syringomyelia
conditions that can cause dural ectasia (can potentially cause widening)
Marfan syndrome
...
Article
Wiltse classification of spondylolisthesis
The Wilste classification of spondylolisthesis is based on the etiology of the slip but does not grade severity nor assist with management 1,2.
Usage
Typically, when reporting studies with spondylolisthesis, the Wiltse type is merely described without referring to its number, whereas the grad...
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.