Imaging Anatomy - Lumbar Spine

Question 1

Two kinds of bone

Answer 1

Cortical and Medullary

Question 2

Cortical bone on CT and MRI

Answer 2

CT - high attenuation

MRI - low signal intensity

Question 3

Medullary bone on CT and MRI

Answer 3

CT- low attenuation

MRI - high signal intensity

Question 4

Pathology of Marrow best seen on

Answer 4

MRI

Question 5

For soft tissue, use

Answer 5

MRI

Question 6

Vertebral disc parts on T2

Answer 6

Nucleus Pulposis - high signal

Anulus Fibrosis - low signal

Question 7

Location of conus medularis

Answer 7

T12-L2

Question 8

Best type for nerves and how do they show

Answer 8

T2 weighted MRI

Show up as low signal intensity within the CSF

Question 9

Myelography

Answer 9

Iodine contrast injected intrathecally

Patient is then imaged

Question 10

Conventional myelography

Answer 10

Uses X-ray

Question 11

CT myelography

Answer 11

CT version

Question 12

CT myelogram nerve appearance

Answer 12

Appear as linear filling defects within column of contrast

Question 13

Vessel signal on MRI

Answer 13

low because fluid is moving

Question 14

Vessel signal on CT

Answer 14

High if IV contrast given

Question 15

How to ID L1

Answer 15

First non rib bearing segment below T12

Question 16

For vertebral disc, use ___

Answer 16

MRI

Question 17

X-ray for bones, soft tissues, and nerves

Answer 17

Bones - good screening test
Soft tissue - poor
Nerve - poor unless using conventional myelography

Question 18

CT for bone, bone marrow, soft tissues, and nerves

Answer 18

Bone - great, especially cortical
Marrow - poor
Nerves and soft tissues - not great

Question 19

CT is modality of choice for

Answer 19

Fracture and bone destruction

Question 20

MRI good for

Answer 20

Bone marrow, soft tissues, nerve roots

Question 21

Signs of degenrated disc

Answer 21

Height loss and decreased water content

May also bulge

Question 22

Advantage of using fat saturation

Answer 22

Allows to highlight areas of edema

Question 23

Positioning of inferior and superior articulating processes

Answer 23

Inferior articulating process - posterior

Superior articulating process - superior

Question 24

Pedicle found

Answer 24

Upper 1/3 of vertebral body and connects to posterior elements

Question 25

Neural foramen

Answer 25

Surrounded by pedicle and where nerve exits

Question 26

Joint attenuation

Answer 26

Low becasue of cartilage

Question 27

Vertebral body with high very attenuation

Answer 27

Sclerotic mestasis

Question 28

Spondylolysis

Answer 28

Fracture of the pars interarticularis

Question 29

Spondylolisthesis

Answer 29

Forward displacement of the vertebra

Question 30

Easiest way to see spondylolisthesis

Answer 30

Look at posterior portion of vertebra to see if they line up

Question 31

Spondylylisthesis only occurs when fracture is

Answer 31

bilateral

Question 32

For myelogram, contrast injected into the ____

Answer 32

Thecal sac (subarachnoid space)

Question 33

Neural foramen shape

Answer 33

Key hole

Question 34

What surrounds a nerve exiting spinal cord?

Answer 34

Fat

Question 35

At L3-L4 disc level, which nerve root is lateral and central?

Answer 35

L3 - lateral | L4 - central

Question 36

Need to see what to see all of cervical spine?

Answer 36

Fact of T1 and C7

Question 37

Easiest way to ID cervical

Answer 37

Find dens of T2

Question 38

Swimmers view helps ID the

Answer 38

cervicothoracic junction