This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) All Versions of this Article: 8756479308327063v1 25/1/4    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Patterson, S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Sonographic Assessment of the Neonatal Spine and the Potential for New Technologies to Aid in Diagnoses

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: shanna.ak{at}gmail.com.

	Abstract

Many spinal disorders, whether congenital or acquired, are likely to have an improved outcome if they are promptly identified. A rapid diagnosis may eliminate progressive sequela and provide insight to possible treatment plans. Although there are various medical imaging modalities for evaluating the neonatal spine, diagnostic medical sonography provides a safe (no exposure to ionizing radiation), quick, and inexpensive approach. Spinal diagnostic medical sonography can be performed in neonates as long as the vertebral column is not completely ossified. Diagnostic medical sonography is a valuable technique that, in addition to 2D imaging, provides 3D, extended field of view (EFOV), and M-mode imaging. Diagnostic medical sonography can identify normal spinal anatomy and variants, congenital malformations, and acquired diseases subsequent to birth-related trauma and lumbar punctures. This article discusses the normal embryology of the spine. Indications for neonatal spinal diagnostic medical sonography are reviewed along with a description of sonographic examination techniques. A review of spinal pathology and their embryological origin will be outlined as well as normal variants seen with sonography. A detailed literature review is provided evaluating case studies and their findings.

First published on January 21, 2009, doi:10.1177/8756479308327063

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography 2009;25:4.

A more recent version of this article appeared on January 1, 2009


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?