Magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative evaluation of cervical radiculopathy. 1991

D W Wilson, and R T Pezzuti, and J N Place
Department of Neurosurgery, Maine Medical Center, Portland.

Forty patients with cervical radiculopathy were examined preoperatively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI was used alone in 27 (68%) of the 40 patients; the remainder also had computed tomography in conjunction with myelography. The primary criterion on MRI for a clinically significant lesion was asymmetrical narrowing of the subarachnoid space in the region of the nerve root. Surgical confirmation of the abnormality was obtained in all 40 cases. The operative findings were a herniated nucleus pulposus (32 of 40 patients), spondylosis (2 of 40 patients), or a combination of the two (6 of 40 patients). MRI identified a surgical lesion (herniated nucleus pulposus, spondylosis, or both) in 37 of the 40 (92%) patients. We think MRI is the only preoperative imaging examination necessary in most cases of cervical radiculopathy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007405 Intervertebral Disc Displacement An INTERVERTEBRAL DISC in which the NUCLEUS PULPOSUS has protruded through surrounding ANNULUS FIBROSUS. This occurs most frequently in the lower lumbar region. Disc Herniation,Disc Protrusion,Disc, Herniated,Disk Herniation,Disk Protrusion,Disk, Herniated,Intervertebral Disc Herniation,Intervertebral Disc Protrusion,Intervertebral Disk Displacement,Intervertebral Disk Herniation,Intervertebral Disk Protrusion,Prolapsed Disk,Protruded Disc,Protruded Disk,Slipped Disk,Disk Prolapse,Herniated Disc,Herniated Disk,Prolapsed Disc,Slipped Disc,Disc Displacement, Intervertebral,Disc Herniations,Disc Protrusion, Intervertebral,Disc Protrusions,Disc Protrusions, Intervertebral,Disc, Prolapsed,Disc, Protruded,Disc, Slipped,Discs, Protruded,Disk Displacement, Intervertebral,Disk Herniations,Disk Prolapses,Disk Protrusion, Intervertebral,Disk Protrusions,Disk, Prolapsed,Disk, Protruded,Disk, Slipped,Herniated Discs,Herniated Disks,Herniation, Disc,Herniation, Disk,Herniation, Intervertebral Disc,Herniation, Intervertebral Disk,Intervertebral Disc Displacements,Intervertebral Disc Herniations,Intervertebral Disc Protrusions,Intervertebral Disk Displacements,Intervertebral Disk Herniations,Intervertebral Disk Protrusions,Prolapse, Disk,Prolapsed Discs,Prolapsed Disks,Prolapses, Disk,Protruded Discs,Protruded Disks,Protrusion, Disc,Protrusion, Disk,Protrusion, Intervertebral Disc,Protrusion, Intervertebral Disk,Protrusions, Intervertebral Disk,Slipped Discs,Slipped Disks
D008279 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques. Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009408 Nerve Compression Syndromes Mechanical compression of nerves or nerve roots from internal or external causes. These may result in a conduction block to nerve impulses (due to MYELIN SHEATH dysfunction) or axonal loss. The nerve and nerve sheath injuries may be caused by ISCHEMIA; INFLAMMATION; or a direct mechanical effect. Entrapment Neuropathies,Nerve Entrapments,External Nerve Compression Syndromes,Internal Nerve Compression Syndromes,Nerve Compression Syndromes, External,Nerve Compression Syndromes, Internal,Compression Syndrome, Nerve,Compression Syndromes, Nerve,Entrapment, Nerve,Entrapments, Nerve,Nerve Compression Syndrome,Nerve Entrapment,Neuropathies, Entrapment,Neuropathy, Entrapment,Syndrome, Nerve Compression,Syndromes, Nerve Compression
D011300 Preoperative Care Care given during the period prior to undergoing surgery when psychological and physical preparations are made according to the special needs of the individual patient. This period spans the time between admission to the hospital to the time the surgery begins. (From Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed) Care, Preoperative,Preoperative Procedure,Preoperative Procedures,Procedure, Preoperative,Procedures, Preoperative
D002574 Cervical Vertebrae The first seven VERTEBRAE of the SPINAL COLUMN, which correspond to the VERTEBRAE of the NECK. Cervical Spine,Cervical Spines,Spine, Cervical,Vertebrae, Cervical
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective

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