title: Scoliosis rates in symptomatic patients as demonstrated with weight-bearing or supine MR imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the United States an estimated 6 million persons are affected by scoliosis, which is characterized by a 3-dimensional deformity of the spine that involves a curvature in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rates of scoliosis in patients with spine-related pain unassociated with cancer, as demonstrated by magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained with patients in either a weight-bearing or a supine position.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a retrospective review of MR images obtained during a 2-year period in patients referred because of symptoms of radiculopathy or other spine-related pain unassociated with cancer and unresolved after conservative treatment. Images were obtained either with the patient supine or with the patient in a weight-bearing, seated position, and all images were reviewed by a neuroimaging physician. Scoliosis was assessed according to the Cobb angle method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1982 MR images from 1486 patients were reviewed. Of those, 986 images in 761 patients were obtained with a low-field-strength (0.3-T) MR imager with the patient supine, and 996 images in 725 patients were obtained with a mid-field-strength (0.6-T) MR imager with the patient in a weight-bearing, seated position. Scoliosis (dextroscoliosis, levoscoliosis, or both) was identified in 958 MR images (48.3%), of which 779 (78.2%) were obtained with patients in a weight-bearing position and 179 (18.2%) were obtained with patients in a supine position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The scoliosis rate was lower in the supine MR imaging group than in the weight-bearing MR imaging group. Scoliosis rates may be affected by the position in which the patient is examined, with the possibility that the weight-bearing position differentially exposes scoliosis, compared with the supine position.
authors.affiliation: University of Pikeville–Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Manuel S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Windsor
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Mick
authors.forename: Gay B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Benjamin B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Storey
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Herder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016683:Supine Position; D014891:Weight Lifting; D055815:Young Adult