Except for neoplasms, in symptomatic patients with submandibular swellings, gaps of the mylohyoid muscle may be the cause of herniations of sublingual tissues, such as fat and/or the sublingual gland. In two patients with a submandibular swelling, MRI with standard sequences including contrast enhancement was performed to exclude a neoplastic ...

The geometry of the lumbosacral region has been suspected to play a role in the development of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in the dog. In this study, 50 dogs (21 German Shepherd dogs and 29 dogs of other breeds) with clinical signs of cauda equina compression were studied by magnetic resonance ...

BACKGROUND: Spondylodiscitis, discitis associated with vertebral osteomyelitis may follow disc-removal surgery. A targeted successful treatment of spinal infections requires clinical and laboratory data that are completed by the contribution of imaging procedures. Neuroimaging provides precise information on correct topography, localization, propagation, and differential diagnosis of spinal infectious lesions. The aim ...

The ovine lumbar intervertebral disc is a useful model for the human lumbar disc. We present preliminary estimates of diffusion coefficients and T2 relaxation times in a pilot MRI study of the ovine lumbar intervertebral disc during uniaxial compression in vitro, and identify factors that hamper the ability to accurately ...

STUDY DESIGN: Herniation of a calcified C3-C4 disc into the left foramen transversarium in a child is reported. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the natural history and management of a calcified disc herniation into the foramen transversarium. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical disc calcification in children usually follows a benign course. Herniation ...

Confusion about the relationship between dental occlusion and the temporomandibular disorders (TMD) has been evident in the literature for many years. Previous studies have supported the concept of a multifactorial aetiology of TMD, the occlusal factor in general being of minor importance. The purpose of the study was to investigate ...

Decreasing size of disc material that has herniated, whether "contained" or "protruded" has previously been described and sometimes this can be so complete that residual material is barely visible. In a retrospective clinical survey, from among almost 2180 consecutive patients admitted during 1994 - 2002 with low back pain; due ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of age, sex, race, refractive error and optic disc topography on the sensitivity and specificity of scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) in the diagnosis of glaucoma. METHODS: A total of 88 normal individuals and 95 glaucoma patients were included in this study. Glaucoma was defined on ...

Intervertebral disk extrusion is rarely reported in the cat. In this case, the clinical, radiologic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings of an acute intramedullary intervertebral disk extrusion in a 5-year-old domestic shorthaired cat are described. Radiographically, there was mineralized disk material within the vertebral canal. On magnetic resonance images, the ...

STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-four asymptomatic participants, ranging in age from 22 to 49 years, volunteered to act as patients for the study. Twenty-eight different clinicians performed thoracic and lumbar spinal manipulative procedures. The range of clinical experience was 1 to 43 years. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to first ...

The development of microscopy, laser technology, endoscopy, and video and image guidance systems has provided the foundation on which minimally invasive spinal surgery is based. Minimally invasive treatments have been undertaken in all areas of the spinal axis since the 20th century. Lumbar disc disease has been treated using chemonucleolysis, ...

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common finding in MRI scans and X-rays. However, their correlation to morphological and biochemical changes is not well established. In this study, radiological and MRI parameters of DDD were assessed and compared with morphological and biochemical findings of disc degeneration. Thirty-nine human lumbar discs ...

It has been reported that a low signal peripheral line (black line) around the lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used for the evaluation of the interruption of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL). However, the previous reports have showed that different rates of agreement ...

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate regeneration of injured temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs following reconstituted collagen template implantation in rabbits using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to correlate these findings with histology. METHODS: Twenty-four adult rabbits were divided into five groups: group A, partial discectomy without implantation (n = 6); ...

BACKGROUND: X-rays and computerised tomography (CT) scans for back pain are often ordered to exclude pathology, to make a positive diagnosis and/or as a response to patient expectations. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the evidence about the accuracy of diagnostic imaging to allow rational ordering without compromising patient satisfaction. DISCUSSION: X-rays ...

BACKGROUND: Despite high efficiency of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in degenerative disease of lumbar spine (DDLS), in many cases its appearance is ambiguous or not compatible with clinical findings. Therefore, different new techniques have been proposed to improve the quality of MR images. One of them is CBASS (Completely Balanced ...

Background. Injury of the intravertebral disc after precise clinical evaluation should be confirmed by different radiographic methods. Although diagnostic methods have recently progressed, there are still problems with proper diagnosis concerning the level of pain provocation. <br /> The aim of this study was a comparison of clinical signs of ...

Background. MRI of the intervertebral disc in discopathy of the lumbar spine have been presented.<br /> Material and methods. a group of 51 patients clinically diagnosed as discopathy of the lumbar spine were subjected to three MR imaging procedures. Imaging was performed before surgery, 6 weeks after surgery, and 12 ...

PURPOSE: To compare findings at preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with data for tissue composition of herniated disks in patients after microsurgical removal of herniated material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients underwent MR imaging before microsurgical removal of extruded lumbar disk herniation material. Marrow signal intensity changes along the cartilaginous ...

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Among mass lesions causing myelopathy at the craniovertebral junction, retro-odontoid intervertebral disc hernias are very rare, with only four such cases reported in the literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old woman with this rare condition complained of motor and sensory disturbances in her extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging scans ...

STUDY DESIGN: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of two contiguous vertebrae along with the intervening disc is presented. OBJECTIVES: AVN of two contiguous vertebrae and the intervening disc is a rare entity and can be confused with infective and neoplastic processes. We present the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the ...

Mechanisms of disc displacement in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement (ID) in mandibular asymmetry have not been clearly defined. This study examines the degree and direction of disc displacement and their relationship with vertical asymmetry in terms of both clinical and biomechanical aspects. A retrospective study of disc displacement was ...

BACKGROUND: Even in the absence of factors concealing anatomical landmarks, high failure rates in correctly determining a given lumbar interspace have been reported. METHODS: Therefore, it was the aim of the present study to compare the assessed and factual level (determined by computed tomography) of epidural puncture in attending a ...

OBJECTIVE: To describe and characterize the temporal changes in disc-related disorders of the thoracic spine using MR imaging. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was carried out of 40 patients with two sequential thoracic spine MR images at variable intervals. The images were assessed for baseline presence of, ...

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using ultrashort TE (UTE) pulse sequences to image the lumbar spine. MATERIALS: Pulse sequences of TE=0.08 ms were used to image the lumbar spine in 5 normal subjects and 14 patients with degenerative disease. Contrast enhancement was administered ...

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the possible use of a low-cost radiation-free technique in the prediction of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. Although an inverse correlation between osteoporosis and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine has been reported, no previous studies have asked whether there is a ...

BACKGROUND: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is often a position-dependent condition that is aggravated in extension and relieved in flexion. METHODS: Ten consecutive elderly patients with LSS were assessed postoperatively by magnetic resonance imaging and the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire. Cross-sectional areas of the dural sac and intervertebral foramina at the ...

Diagnosis, physiopathology, and treatments of four patients with traumatic lumbosacral dislocations are described. This is a rare but severe lesion of the lumbosacral junction that usually occurs in patients with multiple trauma. It often is not thought of and the diagnosis may be missed. Evidence of lumbosacral dislocation should be ...

Preliminary cadaver, animal, and human studies were performed to determine the feasibility of axial anterior lumbosacral spine access using a percutaneous, presacral approach. Custom instruments were directed under fluoroscopic guidance along the midline of the anterior sacrum to the surface of the sacral promontory where an axial bore was created ...

A cadaveric study was performed to investigate the relationship between disc degeneration and morphological changes in the intervertebral foramen of cervical spine, including the effect on the nerve root. Seven fresh frozen human cadavers were dissected from C1 to T1, preserving the ligaments, capsules, intervertebral disc and the neural structures. ...

Previous studies have addressed the increased volume of incidental findings when interpreting MRI lumbar spine studies after the implementation of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The purpose of this study is to confirm prior findings and contribute additional knowledge that supports the use of technology in complimenting the ...

Knowledge of the relationship of the lumbar sympathetic chain to the vertebral bodies is needed to perform sympathetic block and sympatholysis. This information should be correlated with fluoroscopy to determine the best method to perform this technique clinically. Twenty cadavers were dissected to demonstrate the lumbar sympathetic chain. In five ...

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Discectomy is a surgical technique commonly used to treat bulging or herniated discs causing nerve root compression. Clinical data suggest discectomy may also help patients with contained discs and no clear neural compromise. However, the mechanisms of clinical efficacy are uncertain, and consequently bases for treatment optimization are ...

In the past, several techniques for raising the gluteal mass have been described, all of which were based on dermolipectomies of major or minor extension. The main disadvantage of these dermolipectomies is the visible external scar. The author presents his technique for lipectomy of the ilio-lumbosacral region. It is proposed ...

The authors discuss the cases of three patients in whom thoracic paraplegia developed after lumbar spinal decompressive surgery for slight lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Careful computerized tomography myelography and magnetic resonance imaging examination of the thoracic spine revealed another compressive lesion (spinal cord tumor, disc herniation, osteophyte of vertebral body, ...

We present the cases of two middle aged women who were referred to our physiatric spine center with chronic and proximal lower extremity pain complaints of suspected upper lumbar and stenotic origin. Their histories, physical examinations, and imaging studies were not convincing for a primary radicular pain generator. Non-invasive arterial ...

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of unrecognized lumbarization of the S-1 vertebral body leading to wrong-level disc surgery in a patient with acute cauda equina syndrome secondary to a large disc extrusion at the L4-L5 interspace. Laminectomy and excision were initially performed at the level of L5-L6. OBJECTIVES: To review ...

Narrowing of the esophageal lumen often exists for months before being noted by the patient. Screening tests for such lesions would be useful, if applicable to office use. A magnetic disc tablet (14 mm in diameter and 5 mm thick) was fashioned by hand using dental acrylic material to enclose ...

Image analysis techniques are introduced for evaluating disc space narrowing of cervical vertebrae interfaces from X-ray images. Four scale-invariant, distance transform-based features are presented for characterizing the spacing between adjacent vertebrae. K-means and self-organizing map clustering techniques are applied to estimate the degree of disc space narrowing using a four ...

OBJECTIVES: To develop a method and evaluate the performance of thoracic bone mineral density (BMD) measurement using cardiac gated quantitative computed tomography (QCT). METHODS: A total of 762 participants (57% female) with a mean age of 61 years had a CT examination of the heart using prospective cardiac gating. A ...

Acute traumatic L5-S1 spondylolisthesis is a rare condition, almost exclusively the result of major trauma, frequently associated with L5 transverse process fracture and neurologic deficit. In recent years, open reduction and internal fixation with posterior stabilization has been the method of treatment most frequently reported. In the current case, the ...

Vertebral axial decompression (VAX-D) is a form of spinal traction that is widely promoted as an effective and safe treatment of degenerated and herniated lumbar intervertebral disks. Information targeted at the general public emphasizes that the treatment is completely risk-free. We describe a patient with a large lumbar disk protrusion ...

AIM: To ascertain the level at which intervertebral disc degeneration of the cervical spine most commonly occurs in each decade from 20-79 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using computer analysis, we retrospectively assessed the mean signal intensity from each cervical disc from T2-weighted spin-echo images in 60 symptomatic patients (10 per ...

Conjoined lumbosacral nerve roots (CLNR) are the most common anomalies involving the lumbar nerve structures which can be one of the origins of failed back syndromes. They can cause sciatica even without the presence of a additional compressive impingement (such as disc herniation, spondylolisthesis or lateral recess stenosis), and often ...

PURPOSE: To determine whether a commercially available automated MR myelogram sequence improves the interpretation and diagnostic yield at MRI of the lumbar spine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 207 consecutive patients referred for MR examination of the lumbar spine for evaluation of low back pain or spinal radicular symptoms ...

Correlations between intervertebral disc degeneration and bone mass were investigated previously, but never on scoliotic patients. Using MRI measurements of intervertebral discs behavior and vertebral bone tomodensitometry, correlations between nucleus zone displacement within intervertebral discs and mechanical center migration within vertebral bodies were investigated in vivo on scoliotic patients. The ...

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: To report the development of high intensity zones in the lumbar posterior anulus on axial loaded magnetic resonance imaging. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The high intensity zone is seen in the posterior anulus of degenerate lumbar discs on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images and represents a ...

STUDY DESIGN: Lumbar spinal instability was evaluated using radiographic parameters and intraoperative biomechanical measurement. OBJECTIVES: To validate a conventional radiographic assessment using an intraoperative biomechanical measurement and to determine the radiographic parameters indicating anterior column support in lumbar spinal fusion. BACKGROUND: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion is gaining acceptance in the ...

STUDY DESIGN: To evaluate the ability of single-rod anterior instrumentation to save or preserve fusion levels and improve thoracic hypokyphosis in patients with adolescent idiopathic thoracic, thoracolumbar, or lumbar scoliosis. OBJECTIVE: To provide indications for single anterior rod instrumentation for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and demonstrate effectiveness in ...

Forty patients with dinical diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation were evaluated with myelography and CT scan. Myelography diagnosed lumbar disc hemiation at 59 levels in 40 patients, while CT diagnosed disc hemiation at 64 levels. Lumbar disc hemiation was confirmed peroperatively in 30 out of 40 patients at 48 levels. ...