User Ratings

Easy to Follow Achieved Expected Results Overall Rating Add your comments

Spinal Canal Stenosis

J. Randy Jinkins¹, David D. Stark¹

¹Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Brooklyn, New York

Publication Name:

Current Protocols in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Unit Number:

Unit A8.2

DOI:

10.1002/0471142719.mia0802s02

Online Posting Date:

November, 2001

GO TO THE FULL TEXT:

PDF or HTML at Wiley Online Library

Are you the author of this protocol? Login or register and return to this page.

Abstract

This unit presents a basic protocol for fast spin echo sequences for imaging to diagnose stenosis of the spinal canal. Spinal stenosis is defined generally as a narrowing of one or more of the following: the central canal, foramina, and lateral recesses of the lumbar spine. Specifically, this stenosis can be classified into three types as defined by location: (a) stenosis of the central spinal canal, (b) stenosis of the intervertebral spinal neural foramen or foramina, and (c) stenosis of the lateral recess(es) of the central spinal canal.

GO TO THE FULL PROTOCOL:

PDF or HTML at Wiley Online Library

Unit Introduction
Basic Protocol: Conventional and Fast Spin Echo Sequences
Commentary
Literature Cited
Figures
Tables

GO TO THE FULL PROTOCOL:

PDF or HTML at Wiley Online Library

Figures

Figure A8.2.1

Cervical spinal stenosis. (A) Sagittal T₂-weighted (T_R = 4000 msec, T_E = 100 msec) image shows multilevel stenosis of the central spinal canal. (B) Magnified view of (A) shows hyperintensity (arrows) within the cervical spinal cord indicating myelomalacia.

View Image
Figure A8.2.2

Lumbar spinal stenosis. (A) Sagittal T₁-weighted (T_R = 500 msec, T_E = 10 msec) image shows degenerative anterolisthesis of L4 on L5 (arrow). (B) Sagittal T₂-weighted (T_R = 4000 msec, T_E = 100 msec) image shows stenosis of the central spinal canal (arrow). (C) Parasagittal T₁-weighted (T_R = 500 msec, T_E = 10 msec) image shows partial collapse of the intervertebral disc (open arrow) and stenosis of the spinal neural foramen (solid arrow).

View Image

Literature Cited

Literature Cited
	Garfin, S.R., Rydevik, B.L., Lipson, S.J. et al. 1992. Spinal stenosis. In The Spine, 3rd ed. (R.H. Rothman, F.A. Simeone eds.) pp. 791-857. W.B. Saunders Philadelphia.
	Hasegawa, T., An, H.S., and Haughton, V.M. 1993. Imaging anatomy of the lateral lumbar spinal canal. Semin. Ultrasound CT MRI 14(6):404-413.
	Jinkins, J.R. 1993. Gd-DTPA enhanced MR of the lumbar spinal canal in patients with claudication. J. Assist. Comput. Tomogr. 17:555-562.
	Jinkins, J.R. 1999. MR evaluation of stenosis involving the neural foramina lateral recesses and central canal of the lumbosacral spine. Neuroimag. Clin. North Am. 7:493-511.
	Kent, D.L., Haynor, D.R., Larson, E.B., and Deyo, R.A. 1992. Diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis in adults; a metaanalysis of the accuracy of CT, MR, and myelography. Am. J. Roentgenol. 158:1135-1144.
	Schnebel, B., Kingston, S., Watkins, R., and Dillon, W. 1989. Comparison of MRI to contrast CT in the diagnosis of spinal stenosis. Spine 14:332-337.
	Shellock, F.G. 1996. Pocket Guide to MR Procedures and Metallic Objects. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelpia.