Quantitative assessment of the lumbar spinal canal by computed tomography.
An experimentally validated simple standardized method for making precise measurements of the spinal canal directly from the video display of a CT scanner is described. Using this method, normal values for anteroposterior diameter, interpediculate distance, and cross-sectional area of the lumbar spinal canal have been determined in a series of 60 adults. A careful study of canal configuration combined with the prudent use of the normal values should allow the CT diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis to be made with a high level of confidence.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed