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Normal values of the sagittal diameter of the lumbar spine (vertebral body and dural sac) in children measured by MRI

Knirsch, Walter ; Kurtz, Claudia ; Häffner, Nicole ; Langer, Mathias ; Kececioglu, Deniz

In: Pediatric Radiology, 2005, vol. 35, no. 4, p. 419-424

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    Title
    • Normal values of the sagittal diameter of the lumbar spine (vertebral body and dural sac) in children measured by MRI
    Author
    • Knirsch, Walter. Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
    • Kurtz, Claudia. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
    • Häffner, Nicole. Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
    • Langer, Mathias. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
    • Kececioglu, Deniz. Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • Pediatric Radiology, 2005, vol. 35, no. 4, p. 419-424. Springer-Verlag; http://www.springer.de
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:320649
    Summary
    Background: The definition of normal values is a prerequisite for the reliable evaluation of abnormality in the lumbar spine, such as spinal canal stenosis or dural ectasia in patients with Marfan syndrome. Values for vertebral body diameter (VBD) and dural sac diameter (DSD) for the lumbar spine have been published in adults. In children, normal values have been established using conventional radiography or myelography, but not by MRI. Objective: To define normal values for the sagittal diameter of the vertebral body and dural sac, and to calculate a dural sac ratio (DSR) in the lumbosacral spine (L1-S1) in healthy children using MRI. Materials and methods: A total of 75 healthy children between 6years and 17years of age were examined using a sagittal T2-weighted sequence. Sagittal VBD and DSD were measured and a DSR was calculated. This was a retrospective and cross-sectional study. Results: With increasing age there is a significant increase of VBD, a slight increase of DSD, and a slight decrease of DSR. There is no significant sex difference. DSR in healthy children is higher than in healthy adults. Conclusions: MRI is a reliable method demonstrating the natural shape of the lumbosacral spine and its absolute values. These normal values compare well with those established by conventional radiological techniques. Our data may serve as a reference for defining dural ectasia in children with Marfan syndrome