Spinal sonography in newborns and infants - part II: spinal dysraphism and tethered cord

Patients with cutaneous markers in the lumbo-sacral region as well as infants with bladder and bowel dysfunction, orthopedic anomalies and progressive neurological dysfunction are at risk for spinal dysraphism and tethered cord. Three types of spinal dysraphism can be distinguished: Type I - open spinal dysraphisms with a non-skin covered back mass; type II - closed spinal dysraphisms with a skin covered back mass; type III - occult spinal dysraphisms without a back mass. All spinal dysraphisms can be associated with a tethered cord, characterized by a low position of the conus medullaris below L3. Type I dysraphisms are meningomyeloceles and myeloceles, which are associated with CHIARI-II malformations characterized by the low position of the cerebellar vermis within the foramen magnum. Type II dysraphisms are lipomyeloceles, lipomyelomeningoceles, posterior meningoceles and myelocystoceles. Lipomeningoceles and lipomyelomeningoceles are characterized by a subcutaneous echogenic mass which communicates with the spinal canal and may cause tethered cord. Posterior meningoceles are, dorsal cystic space occupying lesions without internal neural tissue. Myelocystoceles are characterized by a cystic dorsal mass which communicates with a dilated central canal characteristic of syringo-hydromyelia. Type III dysraphisms without a back mass are frequently associated with cutaneous markers in the lumbo-sacral region. Sonographically dermal sinus tracts, diastematomyelia, tight filum and lipoma of the filum terminale and the caudal regression syndrome have to be distinguished. Dermal sinuses are characterized by an echogenic tract from the skin to the spinal canal, often associated with a spinal dermoid. Diastematomyelia is characterized by a complete or partial duplication of the spinal cord which can only be shown on axial images. Tight filum terminale or lipoma of the filum terminale is characterized by a thick echogenic filum with a diameter of more than 2 mm, and a conus below L3.

All different forms of spinal dysraphisms and tethered cord can be diagnosed sonographically in the neonatal period as long as the spinal arches are not completely ossified.