Magnetic resonance imaging of scoliosis

Abstract

•. Most cases of scoliosis are idiopathic. Typically, the patient is female and there is a painless thoracolumbar curve convex to the right. •. Atypical features include a curve convex to the left, rapid progression, pain and neurological symptoms. •. MRI has a key role in evaluating scoliosis when atypical features are present to determine whether there is an underlying cause, such as a tumour, or an associated neuro-axial anomaly. •. In many institutions, MRI is routinely performed pre-operatively in all cases of scoliosis surgery to exclude an underlying anomaly. The assessment of scoliosis involves excluding a structural cause of the abnormality, determining the degree of deformity and identifying any associated anomalies. In many institutions MRI is routinely performed pre-operatively in all cases of scoliosis surgery to exclude an underlying anomaly.