ABSTRACT
Introduction: Lumbar canal stenosis occurs due to narrowing of spinal canal diameter and is usually diagnosed by MRI. Aims and Objectives of the study: To study and compare the lumbar canal diameters (Antero Posterior) and Cross sectional areas in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with Lumbar canal stenosis diagnosed using MRI. Materials and Methods: It is a prospective observational study. A total of 100 patients were subjected to MRI and canal diameters were measured. Among them 60 patients were symptomatic with low back pain and 40 patients were asymptomatic without any back pain. Fifty five patients were males and 45 were females. Majority (31%) were in the age group of 20-30 years. Results: In symptomatic cases, 41 (68%) cases were stenosed. Stenosis at all the three levels was seen in 5 (12%) cases. At L3-L4, L4- L5 stenosis was seen in 6 (14%) cases, L4-L5, L5-S1 stenosis was seen in 22(53%) cases, L3- L4, L5-S1 stenosis was seen in 8(19%) cases. In asymptomatic cases, stenosis at all the three levels was seen in 5 (13%) cases and at L4-L5; L5-S1 stenosis was seen in 5(12.5%) cases, L3-L4, L5-S1stenosis was seen in 2(5%) cases. Conclusion: Even in symptomatic Patients, normal diameter of the spinal canal was noticed in 19 (32%) cases. Even in asymptomatic cases canal narrowing was noticed. Most of the symptomatic cases had normal Cross sectional area. Detailed history and clinical examination of the patient along with the radiological investigation of stenosis with MRI scan, will establish the diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
Background. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is one of the most common public health problems in adults. Patients with OSA are prone for excessive adipose tissue deposition in the neck, which in turn, increases the upper airway narrowing. Of the imaging modalities available for assessing the upper airway, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is found to be useful technique for defining soft tissue abnormalities. Methods. We prospectively studied 50 patients presenting with OSA and 50 normal controls to evaluate the role of MRI cephalometry in the diagnosis of OSA and compared the cross-sectional area and antero-posterior diameter of the upper airway in the retro-palatal airway and retro-glossal areas by MRI cephalometry. Results. In comparison with controls, cases had a significantly lower cross-sectional area and antero-posterior diameter of the upper airway in the retro-palatal airway and retro-glossal areas. Conclusions. Our observations suggest that MRI cephalometry is a sensitive technique for the diagnosis of OSA.