PMID: 2494846Mar 1, 1989Paper

CT morphology of intrathecal lumbosacral nerve-root compression.

AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
J T Wilmink

Abstract

Spinal CT scans and radiculograms of 100 patients who had undergone both examinations were studied with the aim of identifying morphologic CT features associated with compression of the intrathecal segment of the nerve root as demonstrated by radiculography. The interest for such a study lies in the fact that, in contradistinction to the distal, extrathecal root segment outlined by fat in the foramen, the proximal segment within the dural sac cannot be distinguished from the surrounding CSF by CT. CT features assessed consisted of deformation of the dural sac and displacement of the surrounding epidural fat. These features were compared with radiculographic signs of root involvement in the same location: kinking of the nerve root, local swelling of the root within the dural sac or the root sheath, and cutoff of root-sheath filling. In addition, a separate "expert opinion" verdict was given in each location as to the likelihood of compression of the intrathecal root segment on the basis of CT findings as confirmed or rejected by radiculography. A degree of correlation existed between CT and radiculographic features in clearly normal or abnormal locations, but there were some marked discrepancies. In borderline cases there were m...Continue Reading

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