spine-radiology lecture

Question 1

what do xray show

Answer 1

only bone outline

Question 2

what do ct shows

Answer 2

bone outlines in more detail and some soft tissue structures

Question 3

what are mri good for showing

Answer 3

SOFT TISSUE

Question 4

what can show small and large tumours

Answer 4

MRI

Question 5

advantage of ct

Answer 5

can show anatomy in multiple planes

Question 6

what do MRI show

Answer 6

Bone outlines in less detail but shows marrow, discs, ligaments and spinal cord and nerves

Question 7

what are bones shown by

Answer 7

x rays
ct and Sri

Question 8

what are soft tissue shown on

Answer 8

limited on ct but good on mri

Question 9

order of spine

Answer 9

cervical lordosis
thoracic kyphosis
lumbar lordosis
seen on ct and mri

Question 10

which vertebra have consistent anatomy

Answer 10

3rd to 7th cervical, all 12 thoracic and 5 lumbar

Question 11

when is ct used in spinal trauma

Answer 11

when xray normal bus suscpicion of high energy injury , associated head injury, abnormal neurological examination

Question 12

what are the ligaments in the spine responsible for

Answer 12

spinal stability

Question 13

can ligaments be seen on xray and ct

Answer 13

no as they are soft tissue structures

Question 14

what implies ligament damage

Answer 14

abnormal vertebral alignment on xray/ ct

Question 15

how are ligaments seen

Answer 15

on mri
damaged= light
normal = dark

Question 16

what cushion the vertebra from stress

Answer 16

intervertebral discs

Question 17

what do healthy discs contain

Answer 17

water and are pliable

Question 18

diseased discs

Answer 18

dehydrate due to age and disease
herniated disc material may herniate through disc lining into spinal canal, press on spinal nerve.. sciatica

Question 19

can you see discs on xrays

Answer 19

no as they are soft tissue

Question 20

what scan may show discs

Answer 20

mri

Question 21

spinal cord on scans

Answer 21

invisible on xrays
poor on ct
mri yes