title: Imaging in spine and spinal cord malformations.
abstract: Spinal and spinal cord malformations are collectively named spinal dysraphisms. They arise from defects occurring in the early embryological stages of gastrulation (weeks 2-3), primary neurulation (weeks 3-4), and secondary neurulation (weeks 5-6). Spinal dysraphisms are categorized into open spinal dysraphisms (OSDs), in which there is exposure of abnormal nervous tissues through a skin defect, and closed spinal dysraphisms (CSD), in which there is a continuous skin coverage to the underlying malformation. Open spinal dysraphisms basically include myelomeningocele and other rare abnormalities such as myelocele and hemimyelo(meningo)cele. Closed spinal dysraphisms are further categorized based on the association with low-back subcutaneous masses. Closed spinal dysraphisms with mass are represented by lipomyelocele, lipomyelomeningocele, meningocele, and myelocystocele. Closed spinal dysraphisms without mass comprise simple dysraphic states (tight filum terminale, filar and intradural lipomas, persistent terminal ventricle, and dermal sinuses) and complex dysraphic states. The latter category further comprises defects of midline notochordal integration (basically represented by diastematomyelia) and defects of segmental notochordal formation (represented by caudal agenesis and spinal segmental dysgenesis). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred modality for imaging these complex abnormalities. The use of the aforementioned classification scheme is greatly helpful to make the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, G. Gaslini Children's Research Hospital, Largo G. Gaslini 5, I-16147 Genova, Italy. a.rossi@panet.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biancheri
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cama
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piatelli
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravegnani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tortori-Donati
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000196:embryology; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000196:embryology; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities*