Multiplanar spinal anatomy: comparison of CT and cryomicrotomy in postmortem specimens

Good anatomic knowledge is a prerequisite for correct interpretation of computed tomographic (CT) scans. To elucidate the complex CT anatomy of the spine, autopsy specimens from various spinal regions were frozen in situ to preserve the undistorted topographic anatomy. The frozen specimens were examined by CT in axial, sagittal, and coronal planes and sectioned by cryomicrotomy along the scanning planes. Photography of the section surfaces yielded detailed anatomic images that were accurately correlated with the CT scans.