Imaging in Spinal DysraphismA Pictoral Assay

Abstract

Spinal dysraphism includes the congenital malformations of the spine and spinal cord. Spinal cord development takes place through successive stages of gastrulation, primary neurulation, and secondary neurulation. Defect in any of these three phases can lead to spinal dysraphism. The embryological classification of spinal dysraphism consists of anomalies of gastrulation, anomalies of primary neurulation, combined anomalies of gastrulation, primary neurulation and anomalies of secondary neurulation. Clinicoradiologic classification of spinal dysraphism consists of open and closed types. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is considered as the gold standard for identifying these disorders. By using the clinical, neuroradiological, and development data systematically an accurate diagnosis can be reached. In this article, authors revise the normal development of the spinal cord and spine and discuss the embryologic classification by illustrating the diverse MRI findings of various spinal dysraphism.

Keywords

• congenital malformations
• gastrulation
• magnetic resonance imaging
• primary neurulation
• secondary neurulation