[Panorama ultrasound of the spinal canal with determination of the level of the conus medullaris in newborn infants and infants].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utility of panoramic ultrasound in visualizing the spinal canal and the conus medullaris level in neonates and young infants.


METHODS
30 children (aged 2 days to 5 months, 2058-6660 g, 41-57 cm) underwent examination of the spinal canal. The children were examined by a single, continuous 9.0 MHz transducer movement from the cervico thoracic spine to the coccyx. A dedicated computer processor produced an extended field of view image in realtime mode.


RESULTS
With panoramic ultrasound coverage of the thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal canal on one extended image was possible. Visualization of the spinal cord, the conus medullaris level, the subarachnoid space, the cauda equina and the tip of the dural sac was easily accomplished in each child. An average of four trials was necessary to obtain an image of sufficient diagnostic quality. The conus level ranged from L1 to L3, the tip of the dural sac was localized at S1 to S3.


CONCLUSIONS
Panoramic ultrasound offers nearly complete visualization of the spinal canal in children on one single extended field of view image. The conus medullaris level and the tip of the dural sac can easily be localized.
Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen. Staatz@rad.rwth-aachen.de
G
G
Staatz
D
D
Hübner
J E
JE
Wildberger
R W
RW
Günther
D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003050:Coccyx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*
Panorama-Ultraschall des Wirbelkanals mit Höhenlokalisation des Konus medullaris bei Neugeborenen und Säuglingen.