European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Syringomyelia is a misleading disease since the problem always lies elsewhere. Arachnoiditis, because it is radiographically difficult to discern, is an especially insidious cause. To better guide selection from among surgical treatment options for syringomyelia, we reviewed our case series of patients without Chiari malformation or spinal injury. ⋯ To remove the cause of syringomyelia, surgical planning will rely on thorough clinical history and accurate imaging to determine the site of cerebrospinal fluid obstruction. Craniocervical decompression to dissect basal arachnoiditis in the posterior fossa can be recommended in hindbrain syringomyelia. Treatment of non-hindbrain arachnoiditis is more controversial, probably owing to uncertainties about the extent of adhesions.
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In the last few years several reports stressed the importance of sagittal alignment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. It was recently reported that T1 slope, defined as the angle between the superior endplate of T1 and the horizontal, correlates strongly with overall sagittal parameters. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of T1 parameters (T1-slope and T1-tilt) on sagittal alignment of AIS hypokyphotic patients preoperatively and postoperatively. ⋯ According to these results, T1 seems to be of major interest in postoperative modifications of sagittal alignment. T1 slope and sagittal tilt are good indicators of postoperative changes for regional (cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis) and global parameters. We therefore consider these parameters as essential in the assessment of AIS patients. Further studies and correlation with clinical scores will, however, be necessary in order to confirm the present findings.
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To investigate the clinical outcomes and imaging features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) presenting as spinal dumbbell tumors. ⋯ There is little clinical information relating to spinal dumbbell MPNSTs. We propose that the following imaging features are suggestive of spinal dumbbell MPNSTs: maximal diameter>5 cm, irregularly lobulated shape, boundary indistinguishable from surrounding tissues, and osteolytic bone destruction.
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Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are the most common form of benign tumors in the spine. The aim of this research was to study the prevalence of VHs in the human population, their distribution along the spine and their location in the vertebral body. ⋯ The reported prevalence of VHs is dependent on the demographic structure of the population studied, the size of the VHs and the method used to identify them. Overall, the phenomenon is more frequent than usually reported. VHs may appear at all vertebral levels and in all areas of the vertebral body.