To benchmark the radiation dose to patients during the course of treatment for a spinal deformity. Our radiation dose database identified 25,745 exposures of 6,017 children (under 18 years of age) and adults treated for a spinal deformity between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2016. Patients were divided into surgical (974 patients) and non-surgical (5,043 patients) cohorts. We documented the number and doses of ionizing radiation imaging events (radiographs, CT scans, or intraoperative fluoroscopy) for each patient. All the doses for plain radiographs, CT scans, and intraoperative fluoroscopy were combined into a single effective dose by a medical physicist (milliSivert (mSv)).Aims
Methods
The widespread use of MRI has revolutionised
the diagnostic process for spinal disorders. A typical protocol
for spinal MRI includes T1 and T2 weighted sequences in both axial
and sagittal planes. While such an imaging protocol is appropriate
to detect pathological processes in the vast majority of patients,
a number of additional sequences and advanced techniques are emerging.
The purpose of the article is to discuss both established techniques
that are gaining popularity in the field of spinal imaging and to
introduce some of the more novel ‘advanced’ MRI sequences with examples
to highlight their potential uses. Cite this article:
