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
Calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle
Calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscles is an inflammatory/granulomatous response to the deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the tendons of the longus colli muscle. It is sometimes more generically known as calcific prevertebral tendinitis or, less accurately, as retropharyn...
Article
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition (CPPD) disease, also known as pyrophosphate arthropathy or pseudogout, is defined by the co-occurrence of arthritis with evidence of CPPD deposition within the articular cartilage.
Terminology
The terminology regarding CPPD disease has been confusing...
Article
Camptocormia
Camptocormia, also known as bent spine syndrome or cyphose hystérique, is a rare syndrome characterized by involuntary flexion of the thoracolumbar spine with weight-bearing which reduces when lying down, and is due to isolated atrophy of the paraspinal muscles.
Epidemiology
In a small case se...
Article
Canal-to-body ratio of Torg and Pavlov
The canal-to-body ratio of Torg and Pavlov is a method of evaluating the degree of cervical canal stenosis on lateral cervical spine radiographs.
Terminology
This ratio is variously referred to as the Torg ratio 3, the Pavlov ratio 3,4, the Torg-Pavlov ratio 5, or the canal-to-body ratio 3.
M...
Article
Cancellous bone
Cancellous, trabecular or spongy bone is one of the two macroscopic forms of bone, the other being cortical bone, and comprises 20% of skeletal mass.
Gross anatomy
Cancellous bone is located in the medullary cavity of bone, in particular tubular and short bones, and consists of dense trabecul...
Article
Castellvi classification of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae
The Castellvi classification is used for lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV):
type I: enlarged and dysplastic transverse process (at least 19 mm)
Ia: unilateral
Ib: bilateral
type II: pseudoarticulation of the transverse process and sacrum with incomplete lumbarization/sacralization; en...
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
Cauda equina
The cauda equina is the collective term given to nerve roots distal to the conus medullaris, which occupy the lumbar cistern.
Its name comes from the Latin for "horse's tail".
The cauda equina is contained within the thecal sac and suspended in CSF. The lower sacral (S2-S5) and coccygeal root...
Article
Cauda equina neuroendocrine tumor
Cauda equina neuroendocrine tumors are rare sporadic WHO grade 1 tumors, almost invariably found below the conus arising either from the filum terminal or less commonly from the cauda equina 5.
Terminology
These tumors were previously known as spinal paragangliomas however they are molecularl...
Article
Cauda equina syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome is considered an incomplete cord syndrome, even though it occurs below the conus. Cauda equina syndrome refers to a collection of symptoms and signs that result from severe compression of the descending lumbar and sacral nerve roots. It is most commonly caused by an acutely...
Article
Caudal epidural injection
Caudal epidural injections, or sacral hiatus epidural injections, are one of several possible spinal epidural injections.
Indications
Typically, epidural injections are performed in patients who are currently not surgical candidates. The caudal injection can be performed when patients are on ...
Article
Caudal regression syndrome
Caudal regression syndrome represents a spectrum of structural defects of the caudal region. Malformations vary from isolated partial agenesis of the coccyx to lumbosacral agenesis.
Epidemiology
Caudal regression syndrome is rare, with an estimated incidence of 1:7500-100,000 7,10.
The vast m...
Article
Central canal
The central canal is the longitudinal CSF-filled space which runs the entire length of the spinal cord and represents the most caudal portion of the ventricular system. It is lined by ependyma.
Gross anatomy
The central canal spans the length of the spinal cord from the caudal angle of the fou...
Article
Central cord syndrome
Central cord syndrome is the most common type of incomplete spinal cord syndrome, usually, the result of trauma, accounting for ~10% of all spinal cord injuries. As the name implies, this syndrome is the result of damage to the central portion spinal cord and in the setting of trauma most common...
Article
Central sacral vertical line
The central sacral vertical line (CSVL) is used in the assessment of spinal scoliosis.
It is a line constructed on frontal films of the spine and pelvis to measure coronal balance, drawn as follows:
a line connecting the top of the iliac crests is drawn
a second line is drawn perpendicular t...
Article
Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL)
Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is a systemic genetic disorder affecting the cerebral small vessels, spine and hair follicles.
CARASIL is an HTRA1-related cerebral small vessel disease, and thus is closely related to, but dis...
Article
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the clear liquid that surrounds and bathes the brain and spinal cord.
Physiology
Production
Cerebrospinal fluid is produced by the epithelium of the choroid plexus within the ventricular system and flows in the direction from the lateral ventricles to the third ve...
Article
Cervical canal stenosis
Cervical canal stenosis is a general term that refers to the abnormal narrowing of the cervical spinal canal that compromises the nerve root and/or spinal cord resulting in radiculopathy and/or compressive myelopathy. The most common cause of cervical spinal canal stenosis is age-related degener...
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
Cervical disc arthroplasty
Cervical disc arthroplasty is a procedure involving the replacement of degenerative cervical intervertebral discs with artificial discs to enable decompression of the cervical spinal cord.
This procedure is an alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and avoids the loss o...