Dural ectasia in the Marfan syndrome: MR and CT findings and criteria.
OBJECTIVE
To create criteria for detecting dural ectasia on MR or CT images in adult Marfan patients.


METHODS
Images were analyzed using a workstation. Parameters that predicted dural ectasia were included in our criteria.


RESULTS
Major criteria include: (1) width of dural sac below L5 > width above L4; (2) anterior sacral meningocele. Minor criteria include: (1) L5 nerve root sleeve diameter > 6.5 mm and (2) S1 scalloping > 3.5. Dural ectasia exists if 1 major or 2 minor criteria are present.


CONCLUSIONS
MR and CT diagnose dural ectasia with high specificity and sensitivity. Our criteria accurately diagnose dural ectasia in adult Marfan patients.
Ahn
N U
NU
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Sponseller
P D
PD
Ahn
U M
UM
Nallamshetty
L
L
Rose
P S
PS
Buchowski
J M
JM
Garrett
E S
ES
Kuszyk
B S
BS
Fishman
E K
EK
Zinreich
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed