Imaging of the spine and spinal cord

Methods of evaluation of spine & spinal cord

• Plain X-Ray
• Myelogram: injection of contrast medium in CSF followed by x-ray images. Rarely performed now-a-days
• Computed Tomography (CT Scan)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Discogram: injection of contrast medium in the disc followed by x-ray images .
• Spinal angiography: To evaluate arteries and veins.
• Ultrasound.
• Radionuclide Bone Scan: Intravenous injection of radioactive material which deposit in bones, followed by images by gamma camera.
• DEXA – Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry: (osteoporosis)

Anatomy

Spine

Presentations

• Trauma
• Infection
• Metabolic
• Neoplasm
• Spinal curvature
• Spinal dysraphism
• Spinal Congenital anomalies
• Collapse of Vertebral bodies
• Dense Vertebrae
• Disc Space Narrowing
• Degenerative disk disease
• Pedicle Abnormalities
• Osteomyelitis

Spinal Cord Tumours

• Extra-dural; - Hemangioma
• Intra-dural extra-medullary; - Spinal SchwannomasZ & MeningiomaY
• Intra-medullary; - Multiple Sclerosis, Syringomyelia
• Spinal Metasteses

(cc TB)