title: Congenital and Hereditary Diseases of the Spinal Cord.
abstract: Congenital anomalies of the spinal cord can pose a diagnostic dilemma to the radiologist. Several classification systems of these anomalies exist. Antenatal ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging is playing an increasingly important role in the early diagnosis and management of patients. Understanding the underlying anatomy as well as embryology of these disorders can be valuable in correctly identifying the type of spinal cord dysraphic defect. Hereditary spinal cord diseases are rare but can be devastating. When the onset is in adulthood, delay in diagnosis is common. Although the spine findings are nonspecific, some imaging features combined with brain imaging findings can be distinctive. Sometimes, the radiologist may be the first to raise the possibility of these disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH. Electronic address: lily.wang@uc.edu.
authors.forename: Lily L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.
authors.forename: Karin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bierbrauer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods