title: Age of closure of the neurocentral cartilage in the thoracic spine.
abstract: We reviewed magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of 91 patients to estimate the chronologic age of closure of the neurocentral cartilage in the thoracic spine. The neurocentral cartilage on MRI appeared low signal in both T1- and T2-weighted images. It was thick and clearly identified in younger patients but was thin and vague in older patients. The neurocentral cartilage closed at 11-16 years in female patients and at 12-16 years in male patients.
authors.affiliation: Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware 19899, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Caro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*