AJDRAJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Widjaja, E.
Right arrow Articles by Griffiths, P.D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Widjaja, E.
Right arrow Articles by Griffiths, P.D.

Normal Fetal Lumbar Spine on Postmortem MR Imaging

E. Widjajaa, E.H. Whitbya, M.N.J. Paleya and P.D. Griffithsa

a From the Academic Section of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom


Figure 1
View larger version (12K):

[in a new window]
  		Fig 1. Disk height and gestational age, demonstrating significant correlation (P <.01) between the 2 parameters.


Figure 2
View larger version (11K):

[in a new window]
  		Fig 2. Vertebral body height and gestational age, demonstrating significant correlation (P <.01) between the 2 parameters.


Figure 3
View larger version (11K):

[in a new window]
  		Fig 3. Area of ossification center of the vertebral body and gestational age, demonstrating significant correlation (P <.01) between the 2 parameters.


Figure 4
View larger version (12K):

[in a new window]
  		Fig 4. Area of the vertebral body taken at midsection of the vertebra and the gestational age, demonstrating significant correlation (P <.01) between the 2 parameters.


Figure 5
View larger version (120K):

[in a new window]
  		Fig 5. Coronal T2 sequence from (A) 18-week, (B) 22-week, and (C) 40-week fetuses. The disk space appears as a linear low-signal-intensity area in the 18-week fetus (small arrow). High signal intensity is seen in the disk space of the 22-week and 40-week fetuses (large arrow). The disk height and vertebral body increase in size with increasing gestational age. The proportion of the vertebral body that is ossified increases with increasing gestational age.


Figure 6
View larger version (70K):

[in a new window]
  		Fig 6. Axial T2 of the spine from (A) 18-week, (B) 22-week, and (C) 41-week fetuses. The ossification centers of the posterior elements are first seen at the base of the lamina (arrowhead). With increasing gestation, ossification is seen to proceed posteriorly to the remaining lamina, anteriorly to the pedicle and posterior aspect of the vertebral body, and laterally to the transverse process.


Figure 7
View larger version (11K):

[in a new window]
  		Fig 7. The level of the conus at different gestational age.


Figure 8
View larger version (170K):

[in a new window]
  		Fig 8. Coronal T2 images from (A) 20-week and (B) 40-week fetuses. The conus lies at L4 level in the 20-week fetus and at L2 level in the 40-week fetus.





Copyright © 2008 by the American Society of Neuroradiology. Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X