Plain X-ray of the Spine, CT (Mass of the Back/ Minimal Spinal Dysraphism)

turu_22a_n.jpg: Anteroposterior x-ray of the lumbosacral region. The increased peduncular distances of the vertebral arches are visible by the naked eye. An increase in the interpeduncular distances visible to the naked eye and extending over several segments is typical for myelomeningocele; it is used by prenatal ultrasound as a pathognomonic finding for the diagnosis of myelomeningocele. In case of minimal spinal dysraphism an increase in the interpeduncular distances may be recognized only by measuring the distances and comparing them with the normal values. Even this slight increase may be missing in minimal spinal dysraphism. turu_22b_n.jpg: CT of the lumbar spine. In this picture with a transverse slice a part of the vertebral arch is missing including the processus spinosus. An anomaly of closure of the spinal arch or spina bifda in a wider sense is the common sign of all dysraphic malformations.