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Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate the spectrum of MR imaging findings in patients with suspected spinal dysraphism in a Military Hospital.
Study Design: Descriptive study
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiology, Military Hospital Rawalpindi from September 2005 to October 2007
Patients and Methods: Patients were referred from neurology, neurosurgery and general surgery departments of Military Hospital and Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi who presented with various neurological problems and skin stigmata having suspicion of spinal dysraphism. A total of 74 patients were evaluated over a period of two years.
Results: All 74 (100%) patients suspected of spinal dysraphism showed one or multiple abnormalities out of the whole spectrum on plain MRI spine. Mean age was 6.4 years with the youngest patient sixteen days old and the eldest being 37 years old. Majority of the patients were under six years of age. A wide range of abnormalities were seen with Myelomeningocele found in 29 (39.2 %) and along with lipomatous component in 9 (12.2%). Thirty three (44.6 %) patients had diastometomyelia, 10 (13.5 %) having associated lipoma of filum terminale while syringomyelia was noted in 36 (48.6%) patients. Moreover, in the majority of patients, dysraphism was at the lower lumbar and upper sacral region.
Conclusion: It was concluded that plain MRI spine is a single safe, non-invasive and quick method of describing the gamut of findings in patients of spinal dysraphism