Retrospective Study
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World J Clin Cases. Dec 16, 2014; 2(12): 883-887
Published online Dec 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i12.883
Spectrum of magnetic resonance imaging findings in congenital lumbar spinal stenosis
Theodoros Soldatos, Majid Chalian, Shrey Thawait, Alan J Belzberg, John Eng, John A Carrino, Avneesh Chhabra
Theodoros Soldatos, Majid Chalian, Shrey Thawait, John Eng, John A Carrino, Avneesh Chhabra, Russell H Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
Alan J Belzberg, Department of Neurosurgery, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
Avneesh Chhabra, Department of Radiology and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9178, United States
Author contributions: All the authors solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Avneesh Chhabra, MD, Associate Professor, Section Chief, Department of Radiology and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9178, United States. avneesh.chhabra@utsouthwestern.edu
Telephone: +1-214-6482122
Received: May 15, 2014
Revised: October 30, 2014
Accepted: November 17, 2014
Published online: December 16, 2014
Processing time: 213 Days and 11.1 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether congenital lumbar spinal stenosis (CLSS) is associated with a specific degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.

METHODS: The lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging studies of 52 subjects with CLSS and 48 control subjects were retrospectively evaluated. In each examination, the five lumbar levels were assessed for the presence or absence of circumferential or shallow annular bulges, annular tears, anterior or posterior disc herniations, epidural lipomatosis, Schmorl’s nodes, spondylolisthesis, pars defects, and stress reactions of the posterior vertebral elements.

RESULTS: Compared to control individuals, subjects with CLSS exhibited increased incidence of circumferential and shallow annular bulges, annular tears, disc herniations and spondylolisthesis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: CLSS is associated with increased incidence of degenerative changes in specific osseous and soft-tissue elements of the lumbar spine.

Keywords: Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Imaging findings; Degenerative changes; Low back pain

Core tip: Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis is associated with increased incidence of degenerative changes in specific osseous and soft-tissue elements of the lumbar spine. Describing the spectrum of the respective imaging findings, this article can assist radiologists in providing more detailed magnetic resonance imaging reports.