[Sagittal widths of the cervical spinal canal in the computerized tomogram]

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Spinal Diagnostics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cervical spinal canal sagittal diameter values from radiological and anatomical literature are not directly applicable to computed tomography (CT) diagnostics.
• CT-measured widths are consistently lower than those determined by other methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the discrepancy in cervical spinal canal measurements between CT and other diagnostic methods.
• To establish CT as the preferred imaging modality for diagnosing stenosed cervical spinal canals.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of cervical spinal canal sagittal diameter measurements obtained via CT with values from conventional radiological and anatomical literature.
• Evaluation of CT's sensitivity in detecting subtle mineralizations and ossifications.

Main Results:

• CT-derived measurements of the cervical spinal canal sagittal diameter are significantly lower than values reported in conventional literature.
• CT's high sensitivity allows for the detection of minor mineralizations and ossifications not visible on standard X-rays.

Conclusions:

• Conventional radiological and anatomical data for cervical spinal canal sagittal diameter are unsuitable for CT-based diagnostics.
• Computed tomography is the most effective imaging method for diagnosing cervical spinal canal stenosis due to its superior detection of pathological changes.