title: Intraspinal abnormalities and congenital spine deformities: a radiographic and MRI study.
abstract: Forty-two patients with congenital spinal deformity were studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sixteen patients had intraspinal abnormalities consisting of a tethered cord in 10, diastematomyelia in four, diplomyelia in three, syringomyelia in four, a low lying conus in three, and a teratoma of the sacrum in one patient. In seven patients, intraspinal anomalies were suspected based on routine spinal radiographs and physical findings. We recommend MRI in patients undergoing spinal stabilization procedures and in all patients with lumbosacral kyphosis and those with pain, neurologic findings, or cutaneous hairy patch.
authors.affiliation: Twin Cities Scoliosis Spine Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55407.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Heithoff
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology