title: [Screening of occult spinal dysraphism by ultrasonography].
abstract: Ultrasonography for diagnosis of spinal cord diseases has been used since the eighties. There are different fields for its use: traumatic spine lesions, intra-operative use in trauma and spine tumors surgery, pre-operative and follow up study for spinal dysraphism, occult spinal dysraphism of the newborn. Patients with suspected occult spinal dysraphism are the most important indication for the method. Ultrasonography was performed in 292 patients of Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Lesions such as conus medullaris lipomas, low level of conus medullaris, filum terminale tethering, cauda equina cysts and dermal sinuses can be well demonstrated. There is no difficulty in interpreting the image. The exam does not need sedation; it is safe, fast and cheap. Ideally it should be performed by the neurosurgeon as it may provide many information during the examination. The ultrasonography does not replace magnetic resonance imaging but it is an excellent method for screening.
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil. henriques_jgb@hotmail.com
authors.forename: José Gilberto de Brito
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pianetti Filho
authors.forename: Petrônio Rabelo
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Karina Santos Wandeck
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: Francisco Otaviano Lima
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Perpétuo
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008403:Mass Screening; D015588:Observer Variation; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography