[Pathomechanisms of spinal canal stenosis - upright MRI image gallery].
OBJECTIVE
Lumbar spinal canal stenosis is a common disease of the elderly patient, with a high prevalence and clinical importance. MRI is the established method of choice for the imaging of spinal canal stenosis. However, there is often a discrepancy between the clinical symptoms and the spinal canal stenosis as shown using MRI in a supine position. In such cases preoperative functional imaging is often warranted.


METHODS
In an image gallery three cases of a functional spinal canal stenosis of the lumbar spine are shown. In all three patients a dynamic, positional MRI (upright MRI) was performed.


RESULTS
The pathomechanisms of the spinal canal stenosis could be shown in all three cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Using upright MRI a functional spinal canal stenosis can be shown. The pathomechanisms of the spinal canal stenosis are discussed. The possibilities and limitations of this new imaging modality are presented and analysed.
Niggemann
P
P
Radiologie, Privatpraxis für Upright MRT, Köln. p.niggemann@mrt-koeln.de
Grosskurth
D
D
Beyer
H-K
HK
D001100:Arachnoiditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007223:Infant; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055013:Osteoarthritis, Spine / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*