J Korean Radiol Soc.  1988 Jun;24(3):472-476. 10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.3.472.

Sonographic findings of normal newborn spinal cord

• Park CS
• Kim DG

• KMID: 2359276
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.3.472

Abstract

The authors performed spinal cord ultrasonography of 21 healthy newborn infants in Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Normal spinal cord revealed low echogenecity as that of cerebrospinal fluid and wasdemarcated by intense reflections from its dorsal and ventral surfaces. The cental canal was routinely seen as athin linear reflection in the center of the cord. The nerve roots making up the cauda equina formed a poorlydefined collection of intense linear echoes extending from the conus. On real time image, the normal spinal cordexhibited rather slow and rhythmical anteroposterior movement within the subarachnoid fluid. A disitinct and rapidvascular pulsation of the spinal cord was usually recognizable. The approximate level of vertebral bodies wasdetermined as follows; most ventrally located vertebral body was thought to be L5 and S1 was seen slightlyposterior to the L5 directed inferoposteriorly. According to the above criteria terminal portions of spinal cordwere seen around the L2 body in 5MHz and pointed termination of conus medullaris was clearly seen at L2-3 junctionand in upper body of L3 by 7.5MHz. So it would be beter to examine by 5MHz for spatial orientation and then by 7.5MHz for more accurate examination. High-resolution, real-time ultrasonography was a safe, rapid screeningtechnique for evaluation of the spinal cord in infants. Additional applications of spinal sonography may bepossible in the evaluation of neonatal syringohydromyelia and meningocele as well as intraspinal cyst localizationfor possible percutaneous puncture by ultrasound guidance.

MeSH Terms

Cauda Equina
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Conus Snail
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn*
Meningocele
Punctures
Spinal Cord*
Ultrasonography*