Spinal cord sonography in newborn: anatomy and diseases

The aim of the study was to verify the reliability of US images by comparing them with Mri, in healthy controls as wel as in patients referred to us between 1991 and 2004. After explaining normal sonograms, we describe the pathological pictures observed in the 12 cases; lack of visualization of the conus medullaris in one case; and an enlarged ependymal canal in six cases. Four cases presented all three pathological conditions, and seven the association of two; three ceses of enlarged ependymal canal and one of tethered cord hypomobility of the roots have an associated lipoma. US was highly specific but not very sensitive, because it is partially conditioned by patient collaboration. The US resolution of both normal and pathological spinal cord structures was particularly clear. The advantages of US are its non-invasiveness, low cost, the virtually ubiquitous availability uf US equipement, the semplicity and rapid of the examination, and its specificity.