title: Potential misinterpretation of cervical spondylosis with cord compression caused by metallic artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging of the postoperative spine.
abstract: Tiny metallic particles produced by the contact of untempered surgical instruments with a diamond drill produce magnetic susceptibility artifacts that can both limit the diagnostic quality of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine and cause diagnostic error. A case of cervical pseudospondylosis with apparent cord compression due to such an artifact is presented. The source of these metallic particles is considered, and the nature of the susceptibility artifact is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, New York.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Kricheff
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds