Abstract
ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of incidental findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine in a paediatric population.Materials and MethodsWe evaluated 190 spinal MRI examinations of patients aged ≤ 18 years of age. The study included only patients for whom complete medical records were available and who underwent complete MRI examination of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine, including whole-spine sagittal T2-weighted sequences. Imaging findings not related to the symptom or indication for MRI were considered incidental findings.ResultsOf the 190 MRI examinations evaluated, 110 were in women and 80 were in men. The mean age of the study population was 12.46 ± 3.68 years. The main clinical indications for MRI in the sample were lumbago, scoliosis, dorsalgia and cervicalgia. Incidental findings were detected in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine in 40 (21.05%), 26 (13.83%) and 43 (22.63%) of the patients, respectively. The most common were (in the cervical spine) reversal/correction of the normal curvature; (in the thoracic spine) intravertebral disc herniation (Schmorl’s node) and disc dehydration; and (in the lumbar spine) disc protrusion (12 cases), Schmorl’s node (5 cases) and spondylolysis (4 cases).ConclusionIncidental findings on MRI of the spine are less common in the paediatric population than in the adult population. Nevertheless, careful clinical evaluation of paediatric patients with complaints of axial and radiating pain is necessary in order to determine the correlation between symptoms and imaging findings.
Highlights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most significant technological advancement in the diagnostic examination of the spine
Materials and Methods: We evaluated 190 spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of patients aged ≤ 18 years of age
There have been only a few studies evaluating the prevalence of incidental findings on MRI of the spine in this population[5], and none of those studies have investigated the topic in the Brazilian population
Summary
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most significant technological advancement in the diagnostic examination of the spine. Because this diagnostic method is sensitive but not specific, asymptomatic individuals can present changes on MRI[1,2], such changes being considered incidental findings. The prevalence of incidental findings on MRI of the spine is high, on scans of the lumbar spine[1,2]. Few studies have evaluated the prevalence of incidental findings on MRI scans of the cervical and thoracic spine[3]. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of incidental findings on MRI of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine in a paediatric population in Brazil
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