MRI LUMBAR SPINE – Supine + Prone – Occult Tethered Cord Protocol ++

Description

The MRI Lumbar Spine Supine and Prone is a first opinion radiology report of two MRI scans of the lumbar spine: a lumbar study in supine position (one taken while the patient is lying on their back), and the other in prone position (patient is lying on their stomach). (Note that this could also be 1 study of the patient in both supine and prone positions).

Occult tethered cord syndrome can be challenging to diagnose because the spinal cord may appear normal on standard supine MRI scans or may be overlooked by an unspecialized radiologist. The lumbar spine MRI in both supine and prone positions offers a unique, comprehensive approach that provides a more detailed evaluation of the spinal cord.

The supine lumbar spine MRI study will be thoroughly reviewed to assess important factors such as the presence of fat in the filum, a thickened filum greater than 2mm, a low-lying conus, and any signs of abnormalities such as filum lipoma, intradural lipoma, lipomyelomeningocele, syringomyelia, or spina bifida occulta. Additionally, the alignment of the bones, canal, and discs will be closely examined. These elements are crucial for identifying various spinal conditions, including occult tethered cord syndrome.

The prone lumbar spine MRI study, using the Kazuyoshi Protocol, adds another layer of insight by specifically evaluating the behavior of the terminal filum in a different position, which can highlight abnormalities that may not be visible in the supine position.

This combined lumbar spine supine and prone study approach ensures a more thorough and accurate assessment, providing a clear, specialized report that helps specialists in diagnosing conditions like occult tethered cord syndrome, which can be missed by standard imaging alone.