The reformatted sagittal spine on abdominal CT: structured approach to non-traumatic pathology

Non-traumatic spinal pathology is often missed on routine axial imaging of the abdomen and pelvis, particularly when obtained in the acute setting, and is much more readily evaluated on sagittal reformats. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to reinforce the diagnostic utility of reviewing sagittal reformats of the thoracolumbar spine on routine abdominal imaging. We present a structured approach to non-traumatic pathology of the lumbar spine using seven categories of pathology that can be identified on sagittal reformats of the spine on abdomen and pelvis CT.