Radiologic Evaluation of Low Back Pain

Question 1

MRIs are used mainly to evaluate ________ and ________ associated with spinal column trauma.

Answer 1

Ligaments, soft tissues

Question 2

A collar on the Scotty dog is indicative of a ________.

Answer 2

Pars interarticularis defect

Question 3

________ and ________ are more sensitive than plain film for detecting infection, cancer, disc pathology, and spinal stenosis.

Answer 3

CT, MRI

Question 4

CT is most useful for diagnosing spinal column injury at the ________ junction.

Answer 4

Thoracolumbar

Question 5

A nerve root cyst commonly found in the sacral nerve roots is known as a _______ cyst.

Answer 5

Tarlov

Question 6

Ossification along the anterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic and lumbar spine is typically seen in ________.

Answer 6

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis

Question 7

Numerous white densities of similar size seen throughout bone is a genetic condition called ________.

Answer 7

Osteopoikilosis

Question 8

Ossification of the ________ in the lumbar spine can result in syndesmophytes and is called “bamboo spine” in ankylosing spondylosis.

Answer 8

Annulus fibrosus

Question 9

The most common benign tumor of the spine is called a ________.

Answer 9

Osteoid osteoma

Question 10

On a T2 MRI, a dark disc usually means the disc is ________.

Answer 10

Dehydrated

Question 11

An imaging test that utilizes radioactive substance and deposits in areas of high bone turnover is known as a ________.

Answer 11

Bone scan

Question 12

The center of L3’s vertebral body should line up within 2-3 mm of the ________.

Answer 12

Sacral promontory

Question 13

A patient with lumbar spinal stenosis can present with ________ which is characterized by leg pain during ambulation that improves with rest and my include numbness and pain radiating to the foot.

Answer 13

Pseudoclaudication

Question 14

Bone scans are typically followed by a ________ or a ________ to characterize lesions found.

Answer 14

CT, MRI