Introduction The diagnosis of spinal cord infarction (SCI) has changed significantly in the past decade, largely due to the contributions of neuroimaging. Historically SCI was considered to be rare, with the definitive diagnosis requiring postmortem examination and probable diagnosis requiring…
Introduction The term syringomyelia was introduced by the French pathologist and clinician Charles-Prosper Ollivier d'Angers in 1827 to described cystic cavities in the spinal cord. More specifically, hydromyelia refers to dilatation of the central canal lined by ependymal cells and…
Introduction Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are benign vascular tumors frequently encountered as incidental findings on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The vast majority are quiescent, with classic imaging features that are reassuring to radiologists and patients, and are…
Introduction Chordomas are unusual tumors with seemingly unconventional traits. Most notably, they are malignant primary bone tumors but not sarcomas. They derive from embryologic cell remnants but predominantly affect late-middle-age adults, and they behave aggressively but grow slowly. Chordomas present…
Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) is classically considered an infectious disease of developing countries; however, it has made a resurgence in other areas of the world with the increased use of immunosuppressive drugs, increased immigration, and the relatively recent appearance of HIV.…
Introduction Infections of the spine are not uncommon in clinical practice. There are many terms used to describe essentially the same pathologic entity at different stages of evolution. In adults, pyogenic infections typically spread hematogenously to the vertebral endplate (vertebral…
Introduction Kummel disease was first described by Hermann Kummell in 1891 as delayed posttraumatic vertebral collapse occurring weeks or months after an often minimal injury. The mechanism is still debated. These lesions are most widely believed to be secondary to…
Introduction The ultimate goal of lumbar interbody fusion procedures is to relieve debilitating pain or prevent neurologic compromise. Fusion is achieved via the promotion of solid ossification across a lumbar disk space, known as solid arthrodesis ( Fig. 24.1 ).…
Introduction Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a slowly progressive disorder that can result in spinal stenosis and myelopathy. Myelopathy in patients with OPLL is related to both static and dynamic factors. The most common anatomic location is…
Introduction Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is the result of an insult to the dentato-rubro-olivary pathway ( Fig. 22.1 ), otherwise known as the Guillain-Mollaret triangle (GMT). After an insult (infarct, hemorrhage, trauma, tumor, surgery) that disrupts the GMT, hypertrophic degeneration…