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Thickened fatty filum terminale: MR imaging.
Neuroradiology
|January 1, 1991
Summary
A thickened fatty filum terminale, identified on MR images, is a rare developmental anomaly. This finding, observed in 0.24% of cases, is typically asymptomatic and clinically insignificant.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
- Anatomical Variations
Background:
- The filum terminale is the terminal extension of the spinal cord.
- Variations in its structure can occur, with potential implications for diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe MR imaging findings of a thickened filum terminale with fat signal.
- To assess the clinical significance and incidence of this specific anomaly.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of MR images from four patients.
- Analysis of imaging characteristics and clinical data.
Main Results:
- Four patients presented with a thickened filum terminale exhibiting a fat signal on MR images.
- No symptoms or evidence of spinal cord tethering were observed in these patients.
- The incidence of this anomaly was determined to be 0.24% in the study series.
Conclusions:
- A thickened fatty filum terminale is likely a benign developmental anomaly.
- It appears to lack clinical significance and is not associated with tethering.
- Awareness of this finding is crucial for accurate interpretation of spinal MR images.