MRI in Characterization of Congenital and Developmental Anomalies of Spine

Abstract

Background: The incidence of NTDs is also relatively high in Indian and Eastern Mediterranean populations. The care of these patients requires evaluation and attention to primary lesion and also to the affected systems outside the nervous system, at present and during the life long follow up many of these patients require. Objective: The purpose of study was to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in characterizing the congenital and developmental disorders of spine. Methods: Total 70 patients with clinically suspected spinal dysraphism were included in the study. All the patients were made to undergo MRI spine using GE 1.5 Tesla MRI after taking informed consent for the same. The findings of MRI spine were assessed and analyzed. Results: There is female predominance, female to male ratio being 36:24. The peak occurrence of congenital spinal lesions is seen in age group 0-20 years (70%) and more common is females than males (36:24). Spina bifida is commonly associated with tethered cord (66.7%) followed by Syrinx (56.7%), Diastematomyelia (36.7%) and thick filum terminale (20%). Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an accurate & noninvasive modality for characterizing and diagnosing these disorders of spine. It was also found that magnetic resonance imaging is superior in defining these lesions, which is a big advantage over other imaging modalities.

Keywords

• magnetic resonance imaging
• spine
• meningocele
• spinal dysraphism