title: Persistence of the notochordal canal: MR and plain film appearance.
abstract: We report a case of an unusually prominent persistent notochordal canal involving the T12-L5 vertebrae. This rare anatomic variation was discovered as an incidental finding in a patient with lymphoma undergoing MR imaging for evaluation of back pain. MR images showed a vertically oriented canal contiguous with the intervertebral disks traversing the anterior aspect of each affected vertebral body. Plain films showed a sclerotic rimmed central channel that flared at each vertebral endplate to merge with the disk spaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Christopherson
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rabin
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hallam
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009672:Notochord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*