Potential misinterpretation of cervical spondylosis with cord compression caused by metallic artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging of the postoperative spine

Tiny metallic particles produced by the contact of untempered surgical instruments with a diamond drill produce magnetic susceptibility artifacts that can both limit the diagnostic quality of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine and cause diagnostic error. A case of cervica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNeurosurgery Vol. 27; no. 1; p. 126
Main Authors Levitt, M, Benjamin, V, Kricheff, I I
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.1990
Subjects
Female
Ferrous Compounds
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Middle Aged
Spinal Cord Compression - diagnosis
Spinal Osteophytosis - diagnosis
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Summary:Tiny metallic particles produced by the contact of untempered surgical instruments with a diamond drill produce magnetic susceptibility artifacts that can both limit the diagnostic quality of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine and cause diagnostic error. A case of cervical pseudospondylosis with apparent cord compression due to such an artifact is presented. The source of these metallic particles is considered, and the nature of the susceptibility artifact is discussed.
ISSN:0148-396X
DOI:10.1227/00006123-199007000-00019