Abstract
Introduction
The inability to visualize the sternum tip and T1 vertebra on radiographs may decrease the accuracy of the measurements of cervical sagittal parameters. The object of this study is to investigate the value of MRI to measure cervical sagittal parameters and to compare the data of cervical sagittal parameters on radiographs and MR images.
Materials and methods
Fifty-two asymptomatic adults were recruited. Each subject had both an MRI and radiographs of the cervical spine. Data, including C2–7 lordosis (CL), T1 slope (T1S), thoracic inlet angle (TIA), neck tilt (NT), and T1S minus C2–7 lordosis (T1S-CL), on radiographs and MRI were collected and analyzed.
Results
There were significant differences in CL, T1S, and T1S-CL, between X-ray and MR imaging, but not in TIA and NT. Each of the radiographic cervical sagittal parameters had a significant relationship with the corresponding value on MRI, and the correlation between radiographic and MRI measurement of TIA was the most significant of all parameters.
Conclusions
Positional change may significantly influence most sagittal parameters. Supine MRI cannot substitute for upright cervical radiographs to measure most cervical sagittal parameters except for TIA in an asymptomatic population.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Funding
This work was sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of China (81372002, 31170925) and a research grant from the Shanghai Hospital Development Center (SHDC12014102).
Ethical approval
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University. The manuscript submitted does not contain information about medical device(s)/drug(s).
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Xing, R., Zhou, G., Chen, Q. et al. MRI to measure cervical sagittal parameters: a comparison with plain radiographs. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137, 451–455 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2639-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2639-5