ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025
MRI underestimates lumbar spinal canal cross-sectional area compared to CT in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
Article in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Practical Application of the AO Spine Primary Infection Classification System: Clarifying Definitions, Borderline Cases and Common Misinterpretations.Global spine journal · 2026Review
- The Role of CT in Cervical Spine Imaging for Suspected Cervical Myelopathy.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2026Article
- Full-endoscopic lateral recess decompression: How much space do we need?European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
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Abstract
objectivesLumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common condition characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, often leading to neural compression. Accurate imaging is crucial for diagnosis and surgical planning, with MRI and CT being the primary modalities. While MRI excels in soft tissue visualization, CT is superior for assessing bony structures. This study compares lumbar spinal canal cross-sectional area measurements on MRI and CT in patients undergoing surgery for LSS.
methodsTwenty patients with LSS who underwent lumbar decompression surgery after failed conservative treatment were included. Axial MRI and CT images from L1 to S1 levels were obtained and analyzed using Radiant DICOM Viewer. The spinal canal area was measured and compared between modalities. Statistical analyses assessed the measurement discrepancies, including paired t-tests and Pearson correlations.
resultsThe mean difference in cross-sectional area between MRI and CT across all levels was 26.5 mm
conclusionsMRI's underestimation of spinal canal size compared to CT has implications for surgical planning, particularly in severe stenosis. A multimodal MRI and CT approach may improve diagnostic accuracy and surgical outcomes. Future research should involve larger cohorts to elucidate these findings further.
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