Regional variations in the thickness of cervical spine endplates as measured by computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To determine regional variations in the thickness of human cervical spine endplates with high spatial resolution.


METHODS
Six explanted human cadaveric spine specimens underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning. Measurement of endplate thickness was done fully automatically at every point of the endplate using a computer program written specifically for this purpose. Variations in thickness along sagittal and coronal lines were determined and statistical parametric mapping was used to test for significant regional variations at every point.


RESULTS
Anterior and medial aspects of superior endplates were shown to be significantly thinner than lateral and dorsal parts. Superior endplates were found to be thicker than inferior endplates.


CONCLUSIONS
Fully automatic assessment of endplate thickness from CT data is feasible. Central regions of the cervical spine endplates are thinner than peripheral parts of the endplates. This distribution is more pronounced in superior than in inferior endplates.
Schmitz
B
B
Department of Neuroradiology, Saarland University Hospitals, Homburg, Germany. bernd.schmitz@email.de
Pitzen
T
T
Beuter
T
T
Steudel
W I
WI
Reith
W
W
D000465:Algorithms; D002102:Cadaver; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed