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Congress: ECR25
Poster Number: C-24567
Type: Poster: EPOS Radiologist (scientific)
DOI: 10.26044/ecr2025/C-24567
Authorblock: A. I. Majeed; Islamabad/PK
Disclosures:
Ayesha Isani Majeed: Nothing to disclose
Keywords: Musculoskeletal spine, Digital radiography, Diagnostic procedure, Radiation safety, Congenital
Purpose Spina bifida refers to a congenital neural tube defect resulting in defective closure of bony plate forming vertebral column [1]. The abnormality ranges from mildest form of spina bifida occulta/ closed spinal dysraphism to open spinal dysraphism with meningocele /meningomyelocele and other complications [2]. It usually involves the lower spine and is second most common congenital abnormality, first being congenital heart defects [3,4]. This pathology has wide range of clinical manifestation going entirely unnoticed or incidentally coming to light on...
Read more Methods and materials This study spanning over 3 months was conducted in radiology department of children hospital, Islamabad and included 228 patients, under 12 years of age. The AP view x-rays of lumbosacral spine were included in the study. The lateral view x rays were excluded as they have no added benefit in detection of spina bifida. The x ray was labeled as normal when both sides of lamina meet in midline and fused into the spinous process. Failure of the lamina to...
Read more Results A total of 228 AP lumbosacral spine radiographs were included in the study. Most of the referred patients had nocturnal enuresis as the presenting complaint. 112 out of 228 x-rays (49%) were normal. The remaining 116 x rays (51%) showed spina bifida that was confirmed on subsequent MRI however no associated abnormality was identified on MRI. Figure 3 shows normal appearance of lamina fusing in midline without evidence of spina bifida. [fig 3] [fig 4] The abnormality is relatively more common in...
Read more Conclusion Almost half of the x rays performed in our setting for the suspicion of spina bifida occulta turned out to be normal. Furthermore children who underwent MRI for spina bifida occulta had no additional significant finding, therefore this trend of un-necessary x-rays of children with nocturnal enuresis should be avoided as it is leading to both a radiation and economic burden, which a developing country like Pakistan cannot sustain.
Read more References Brea CM, Munakomi S. Spina Bifida. [Updated 2023 Aug 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559265/ Copp AJ, Adzick NS, Chitty LS, Fletcher JM, Holmbeck GN, Shaw GM. Spina bifida. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015 Apr 30;1:15007. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2015.7. PMID: 27189655; PMCID: PMC4898641 lbanese M, Pizzutillo P. Family study of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. J Pediatr Orthop. 1982;2:496–499. doi: 10.1097/01241398-198212000-00006. Neural Tube Defects, Susceptibility to; NTD. OMIM: Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man. https://www.omim.org/entry/182940. Published June 2,...
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