Tahira Nishtar, Attiya Elahi, Naveed Iqbal.
To determine the frequency of accuracy of MRI in diagnosis of rare disorder of spinal dysraphism.
J Med Sci Jan ;19(4):195-9.

Objective: To determine the frequency of accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of rare disorder of spinal dysraphism. Material and Methods: This observational descriptive study was conducted at Department of Radiology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar from April 2010 to May 2011. Clinical data of a total of 60 patients of suspected spinal dysraphism were analyzed by MRI examination of lumbosacral spine. Results: A total of 60 patients (32 male and 28 females) with age range 2 months – 40 years were analyzed in the Department of Radiology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. The main presenting complaint in majority of patients was swelling of lumbosacral region or weakness of lower limbs. All of the patients underwent multiplanar MRI lumbosacral spine examination and 17(28.3%) patients were diagnosed as having spinal dysraphism. Fifteen patients had spina bifida, 11 had tethered cord, 10 had a myelomeningocele, 7 had a diastematomyelia, 6 had associated spinal lipomas, 3 had a dermal sinus tract, 2 had myeloceles and 1 had an associated dermoid cyst. These patients did not require any further investigations. Conclusion: MRI lumbosacral spine is a highly accurate modality for the diagnosis of spinal dysraphism.

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