Imaging of Congenital Anomalies of the Spinal Cord: Part 1

Spinal dysraphism (SD) encompasses a spectrum of congenital malformations that develop during spinal embryogenesis (between the second and sixth gestational weeks). Broadly, SDs are classified into "open" or "closed" based on the presence (or lack of) of an overlying cutaneous defect. In general, open SDs are associated with significant neurologic impairments warranting prompt diagnosis and surgical correction-including in utero interventions. Radiology plays a key role in identification and distinguishing SDs thus providing information for surgical triage, prognostication, and outcome assessments. In this article, we review the radiologic appearances of SD with emphasis on embryopathogenesis.