Characteristics and evaluation of MR myelography in the diagnosis of lumbar spinal disorders

English Keywords:Lumbar spinal disorders  MR myelography  Diagnosis

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objective：To investigate the MR myelography（MRM） findings and its value in determining lumbar spinal disorders.Method：MRM and surgical findings of 132 cases diagnosed as lumbar spinal disorders were analyzed comparatively，and their characteristics and diagnostic accuracy were reviewed either.Result：Beard shape was showed in 9 cases（27 segments） on MRM，which were diagnosed as development lumbar spinal stenosis preoperatively and had intraoperative findings of decreasing laminar included angle，thick laminar and remarkably degenerated facet joint，which were completely coincidence to preoperative diagnosis.56 cases（150 segments） showed curtain shape，partial blockage shape and complete blockage shape on MRM，which were diagnosed as acquired central lumbar spinal stenosis preoperatively and had intraoperative findings of degenerated facet joint and thick ligamentum flavum，with the diagnostic accuracy of those three shapes 89.8％（44/49），100% and 100% respectively.28 cases（80 segments） showed nub shape and unilateral print shape on MRM，which were diagnosed as acquired lateral recess stenosis preoperatively and had intraoperative findings of infolding of the ligamentum flavum in lateral recess，with the diagnostic accuracy of 100% for both.39 cases（98 segments） showed horn shape and corset shape，which were diagnosed as acquired bilateral recess stenosis preoperatively and had intraoperative findings of thicken the lateral ligamentum flavum in lateral recess and degenerated upper facet joint，with the diagnostic accuracy of 80.6%（29/36） and 100% respectively.3 cases showed root beard，which were diagnosed as central disc hernia preoperatively and had intraoperative findings of disrupt disc bulged into the central side of spinal canal，with the diagnostic accuracy of 100%.16 cases showed nub shape and unilateral print shape，which were diagnosed as lateral disc herniation preoperatively and had intraoperative findings of disrupt disc bulged into the lateral side of spinal canal，with the diagnostic accuracy of 100% for both.14 cases were diagnosed as Tarlov cyst，their MRM showed circumferential dural sac type，central nerve root sheath type and circumferential nerve root sheath type，whose correlation with dural matter and nerve root were verified through operation with the diagnostic accuracy of 100%.6 cases were diagnosed as lumbar intradural tumor on MRM，which were confirmed by surgery.Conclusion：MRM is capable of determining intradural tumor accurately，which is an alternative to preoperative evaluation of lumbar spine disorders.