Diagnostic value of spinal ultrasound compared to MRI for diagnosis of spinal anomalies in pediatrics

Abstract

Background

Spinal dysraphism (SD) is a spectrum of congenital disorders. MRI is the gold standard technique for diagnosis of SD. Spinal ultrasonography (USG) can be used as a screening tool for SD in infants. The purpose of our study is to assess the diagnostic value of spinal USG in the diagnosis of spinal dysraphism in pediatrics compared to MRI as a gold standard technique. Our prospective, cross-sectional study involved 45 infants and children with suspected spinal dysraphism. All patients were subjected to supervision of their medical history, full neurological examination, spinal ultrasonography and anatomical spine assessment by conventional MRI examination including sagittal and axial T1W & T2W, sagittal & coronal STIR imaging. Comparison of spinal USG with MRI findings was done.

Results

There is excellent overall agreement between MRI and ultrasound diagnosis in the evaluation of spinal cord morphology and bony elements in patients aged ≤ 2 years old (κ = 0.96 and 0.98) respectively, and fair overall agreement between MRI and ultrasound diagnosis (κ = 0.58) in patients aged > 2 years old. The accuracy of spinal USG in diagnosis of spinal dysraphism in patients aged ≤ 2 years old was as the following: specificity (94.5–100%), sensitivity (84.3100%), PPV (86.7–100%) and NPV (85.7–100%), as compared to MRI.

Conclusion

Spinal ultrasound can be used as a first-line screening investigation for SD; patients with USG abnormalities proceed to MRI. Spinal ultrasound is of no worthy value after the age of bone ossification, and MRI is the best modality of diagnosis in older pediatrics.

Background

Spinal dysraphism includes a spectrum of congenital disorders and it is caused by imperfect fusion of midline bony, mesenchymal and neural structures due to incomplete closure of the neural tube in early embryoneogenesis [1]. Spinal dysraphism is divided into two broad groups: spina bifida aperta (posterior protrusion of neural tissue through a bony vertebral defect with exposure of neural tissue, not covered by skin); and spina bifida occulta with and without a skin-covered back mass [2].

It is the most common congenital central nervous system (CNS) abnormality with myelomeningoceles occurring in up to 2 per 1000 live births, although recently, the incidence has been decreased by maternal dietary folate supplementation prior to and during pregnancy [3, 4].

Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been called the gold standard of screening for occult spinal dysraphism [5, 6], but it is time-consuming, costly and invasive which requires sedation or general anesthesia in infants. It is highly dependent on factors affecting resolution such as patient motion, physiological motion from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation and vascular flow [7,8,9].

Spinal ultrasound can be used in the diagnosis of occult and non-occult spinal dysraphism, assessment of spinal cord tumors, vascular malformations and in birth-related trauma cases [10]. Presence of cutaneous or subcutaneous anomaly of the lower back or an imperforate anus requiring a search for occult tethered spinal cord [11].

So the purpose of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of spinal ultrasound as a primary modality for diagnosis of spinal dysraphism in pediatrics compared to MRI as a gold standard tool.

Methods

This is a comparative cross-sectional, prospective single-center study approved by the local institutional ethics committee; written informed consent was obtained from parents of patients.

Study population

Our study consisted of a series of 45 infants and children with clinically suspected spinal cord anomalies and presented by skin-covered masses and midline cutaneous malformations of the back over a period of 2 years from October 2017 to September 2019.

Inclusion criteria involved the following: infants and children of any age clinically suspected to have spinal dysraphism or tethered cord having either (midline or paramedian back masses or dimples, midline skin discoloration, skin tags, hair tufts, hemangiomas of the back). Exclusion criteria involved (a) newborns with clinically suspected birth-related spinal cord injury, (b) absolute contraindications to MR imaging and (c) parents refusing to contribute in the study.

All patients were subjected to revision of their medical history, full neurological examination, spinal ultrasonography scan and anatomical spine assessment by conventional MRI examination including (sagittal and axial T1W & T2W, sagittal & coronal STIR imaging). Comparison of spinal ultrasonography (USG) with MRI findings as was performed.

History and neurological examination

Assessment of the following was done: (a) clinical history of skin-covered masses and midline cutaneous malformations of the back, (b) history of any neurological manifestations (urinary incontinence) or associated congenital anomalies.

Spinal ultrasonography scan

Spinal ultrasonography was done for all participants in the study by using two machines; (a) PHILIPS HD 11 XE using the high frequency array (L12-3), (b) SEIMENS ACUSON X300 using the high frequency linear probe(VF 10-5).

Spinal ultrasonography technique protocol

Patient was laying prone with head slightly higher than the feet to better fill the lower CSF space. A rolled towel was placed under the patient’s abdomen to slightly widen the posterior inter-spinous spaces.

Routinely, sagittal and axial scans of the spinal cord were obtained using high-frequency ultrasound. Examination was done to assess (1) the spinal cord from the cranio-cervical junction to the conus medullaris, filum terminal and cauda equina; (2) bony vertebrae and its spinous process, whether there is a defect or no; and (3) any masses and whether (solid, cystic or heterogeneous).

Magnetic resonance imaging

All patients underwent lumbar MRI by using 1.5 Tesla MR scanner (Philips Medical Systems, Achieva). 5CH Spine Coil or 15CH Spine Coil was used.

Patient’s preparation

Preparation included that patients not eat or drink 4 h prior to examination due to required sedation. Any metallic objects were removed. The patient lied in supine position. Sedation was required in 20 children aged < 2 years old by using chloral hydrate.

MRI protocol and technique

Sagittal, fast spin-echo T1- and T2-W sequences (3-mm-thick slices) were done for the whole spine. Sagittal T1WIs were obtained with TR = 600 ms and TE = 30 ms. Axial and sagittal T2WI were obtained with TR = 3000 ms, TE = 120 ms. Images were obtained with an interslice gap of 5.2 mm, slice thickness of 4 mm and a matrix size of 512 × 512.

Axial T1-W and T2-W images are acquired through any abnormality. Children with scoliosis and/or suspected spinal dysraphism routinely have axial T1-W images through the conus and filum terminale that may not be visible on sagittal imaging. Sagittal and coronal STIR (short tau inversion recovery) sequences with TR = 3000 ms and TE = 40 ms was done for all patients to detect if lipomas of filum terminale.

Unlike most adult spine imaging protocols, groups of axial images through disc levels are not applied because degenerative disc disease is rare.

Spinal ultrasonography and MRI image analysis

MRI findings were interpreted by two specialty-certified radiologists who were blinded with ultrasound findings.

Spinal cord morphology

• Presence of two hemicords

• Level of cord termination (tethered cord or not; low conus medullaris considered below L2).

• Expansion of central spinal canal

• Displacement of the cord (dorsal/ventral)

• Conus medullaris thickness (normal thickness up to 4 mm)

• Filum terminale thickness (any fibrous or lipomatous ending; thickened filum terminale> 2 mm)

• Cauda equina and nerve roots

• The surrounding subarachnoid space (if masses or expansion)

The associated pathology

• Back swelling (there is a neural element, fat or CSF?; neural placode, if present; is in flush with skin or not)

• Skin dimple (connected to cord or not)

• Sacral sinus (connected to cord or not)

Bony element pathology

• Presence of defective spinous process or not (spina bifida occulta)

• Vertebral morphology (ex. hemivertebrae or segmented vertebra)

• Sacral agenesis

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis and tests were specified according to the variable type. A commercially available IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS; 21st edition, IBM, USA) was used.

Results of the spinal USG were compared with those of the MRI, and the predictive values of spinal USG were calculated by obtaining positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive values (NPV), sensitivity, specificity and total accuracy of the spinal USG.

Continuous data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and categorical data as percentage. Chi-squared test was used to compare between the qualitative data expressed as number and percentage. Agreement between the spinal USG diagnosis and MRI diagnosis was determined using the kappa statistic (As a rule of thumb, κ = 1 indicates perfect agreement, 0.8 –< 1 is excellent agreement, 0.6 –< 0.8 is good agreement, 0.4 –< 0.6 is fair agreement, > 0 –< 0.4 is poor agreement, and κ = 0 is agreement by chance alone). Also, the inter-observer reliability and agreement of detected MRI findings was determined by using Kappa test.

Results

Demographic distribution of study population

Fourty five patients were subjected to our study with age range of 2 months – 12 years and a mean age of 15.6 ± 13 months. The studied patients were subdivided into two groups, either > 2 years old or ≤ 2 years old. The patient group of ≤ 2 years old involved 30 patients, while the patient group of > 2 years old involved 15 patients. Study population represented 26 females (57.8%) and 19 males (42.2%).

Distribution of study population according to clinical presentation, associated anomalies and spinal segments involved

As represented in Table 1, variable clinical presentations were observed, and some cases shared more than one presentation.

Table 1 Distribution of study population in terms of clinical presentation

The associated anomalies among our study population involved hydrocephalus, paraplegia with patulous anus, congenital scoliosis, renal anomalies, and lower limb anomalies. The most common associated anomaly was hydrocephalus (27%). Urinary incontinence was found in 31 patients (68%). Neurological abnormalities was found in 38 patients (84.5%). Eleven cases had Chiari syndrome (24%).

Lumbosacral spine was the most common region involved in 32 patients (71.1%; Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). The dorsolumbar region was involved in 8 patients (17.8%) and the sacrococcygeal region in 5 patients (11.1%).

Fig. 1

Six-day-old female neonate presented with lumbar swelling and hydrocephalus, paraplegic with patulous anus, horse shoe kidney and vertebral anomalies. a Transverse USG showed defective spinous process with neural element passing through the defect and neural placode is not in flush with the skin. b Longitudinal USG showed filum terminale passing through the spinal defect. c Longitudinal USG showed cystic lesion showing CSF and nerve roots within (myelomeningocele). d Axial T2W MRI showed associated renal anomaly (horse shoe kidney, black arrow). e Sagittal T2W MRI showed defective L1 spinous process with all downward posterior components and myelomeningocele passing through the defect (white arrow). Final diagnosis is Myelomeningocele with associated vertebral anomalies (segmental spinal dysgenesis), agreement frequency between ultrasound and MRI findings = 94% (segmental spinal dysgenesis was missed by ultrasound)

Fig. 2

Thirty-five-day-old infant presented with a large lumbar cystic swelling and paraplegia. a Transverse USG showed defective spinous process with CSF and nerve roots passing through it. b Longitudinal USG showed dilatation of central spinal canal with fluid (hydromyelia). c Sagittal STIR MRI showed defective spinous processes (white arrow), large lumbar swelling with CSF and nerve roots (myelomeningocele), and high signal fluid intensity noted within the spinal cord in keeping with syringohydromyelia (arrow). d Axial FLAIR MRI of brain showed hydrocephalus (Chiari II). Final diagnosis is Arnold-Chiari II Syndrome (myelomeningocele with syringohydromyelia and hydrocephalus), agreement frequency between ultrasound and MRI findings = 100%

Fig. 3

One-year-old female infant presented with back swelling. a Transverse USG showed defective spinous process at L5 level. b Longitudinal USG showed dilated central spinal canal (hydromyelia), cystic dilatation at its end, and dilated surrounding subarachnoid space (associated meningeocele). c Sagittal T2WI showed hydromyelia (black arrow), cystic dilatation of central spinal canal (white arrow), tethered cord and noted neurogenic bladder. d Coronal T2WI showed cystic lesion (Myelcystocele). Final diagnosis is terminal myelocystocele. Partial agreement between USG and MRI, conus medullaris and filum terminal were not assessed properly by USG; agreement frequency = 88%

Fig. 4

A one-day-old male neonate presented with cystic back swelling, paraplegia and patulous anus. a Transverse 2D ultrasound scans demonstrated spinous process bony defect of L5 level with CSF and nerve roots passes through out (black arrows). b Longitudinal 2D ultrasound scan demonstrated tethered cord (curved arrow). c Sagittal T2W1 showed tethered cord with lumbar myelomeningocele (neural placode is not in flush with the skin, white arrow). Final diagnosis is myelomeningocele, agreement frequency between ultrasound and MRI findings = 100%

Detailed distribution of study population according to different types of spinal dysraphism

Open spinal dysraphism was found in 27 patients (60%). Closed SD was found in 14 patients (31.1%). Four cases shared both closed and open SD (8.9%; Tables 2 and 3).

Table 2 Detailed distribution of study population in terms of different types of spinal dysraphism

Table 3 Distribution of study population in terms of type of spinal dysraphism

Detailed agreement between USG and MRI according to different types of spinal dysraphism was mentioned and declared in Table 4.

Table 4 Detailed agreement between ultrasound and MRI of different types of spinal dysraphism

Detailed agreement between ultrasonography and MRI findings in terms of spinal cord morphology and bony element in patients aged ≤ 2 years old

Our study correlated spinal USG with MRI findings to detect the level of agreement as regards spinal cord morphology in patients aged ≤ 2 years old. We found higher levels of correlation in the detection of spinal cord displacement, detection of two hemicords and detection of central spinal canal dilatation (100%).

For evaluation of spinal cord morphology in patients less than 2 years old, there was excellent overall agreement between MRI diagnosis and ultrasound diagnosis (κ = 0.96) and p value < 0.001 (Table 5).

Table 5 Agreement between USG and MRI findings in terms of spinal cord morphology in patients aged ≤ 2 years old

Regarding detection of bony element involvement in patients less than 2 years old, there was excellent overall agreement between MRI and ultrasound diagnosis (κ = 0.98, Table 6).

Table 6 Detailed agreement between USG and MRI findings regarding detection of bony element in patients ≤ 2 years old

The chi-square test revealed that the agreement between MRI and ultrasound diagnosis as regards spinal cord morphology diagnosis was seen in 88% (n = 26) of patients and partial agreement was seen in 12% (n = 4) of patients. Agreement between MRI and ultrasound diagnosis as regards detection of bony element involvement was seen in 94% (n = 28) of patients and partial agreement was seen in 6% (n = 2).

Detailed agreement level between ultrasonography and MRI findings in terms of spinal cord morphology and bony element in patients of > 2 years old

It was found that there is the same agreement level in all items of comparison either in spinal morphology or bony elements (≈ 33.3%).

In terms of detection of spinal morphology and bony element involvement in patients of > 2 years old, there was fair overall agreement between MRI diagnosis and ultrasound diagnosis (κ = 0.58). Agreement between MRI diagnosis and ultrasound diagnosis was seen in 33.3% (n = 5) of patients and no agreement was seen in 66.7% (n = 10).

Accuracy of ultrasonography and MRI findings in terms of spinal cord morphology and bony element in patients with spinal dysraphism

It was found that the accuracy of spinal ultrasound in the diagnosis of spinal dysraphism in patients aged ≤ 2 years old are as the following: specificity levels ranging from 94.5–100%, sensitivity ranging from 81.8–100%, positive predictive value ranging from 84.3–100% and negative predictive value ranging from 86.7–100%, as compared to MRI.

The accuracy of spinal ultrasound in diagnosis of spinal dysraphism in comparison with MRI in patients (aged > 2 years old) was as the following; spinal USG displayed specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 33.3%, positive predictive value of 66.7%, and negative predictive value of 49%, as compared to MRI.

There was excellent complete overall agreement and reliability between the two reviewers in the interpretation of MRI data (κ = 1). Both reviewers were blinded to USG data.

Discussion

Spinal ultrasound is becoming remarkably accepted as a first-line screening imaging modality used in neonates suspected of spinal dysraphism [12]. Motion artifacts, which can considerably reduce the quality of MRI in young children, play a minor role during the real-time ultrasound. The diagnostic value of spinal ultrasonography is nearly similar to MRI for diagnosis of main spinal anomalies in infants [13, 14].

According to the demographic profile; the age of our study group ranged from 2 months to 12 years and a mean age of 15.6 ± 13 months. The patient group of ≤ 2 years old involved 30 patients, while the patient group of > 2 years old involved 15 patients. Study population represented 26 females (57.8%) and 19 males (42.2%).

In other study by Kumari et al. which examined 66 patients (age ranged from 17 days to 13 years). Most of the children were ≤ 2 years old. Fourty (66.6%) patients were females and 26 (33.3%) were males. They found that swelling in the back was also the commonest clinical feature (77.2%) [15].

Mehta et al. studied 50 patients and found that the most common anomalies were type II Arnold-Chiari malformation with lumbar meningomyelocele (34%), spina bifida occulta (22%), and diastmatomyelia (18%) [16].

In another study by Dhingani et al., where age group of the studied patients ranged from 2 days to 16 years. 84.21% patients were < 10 years old, and the neonatal period was the most common presenting age group accounting for 39.47% of total cases. The most common clinical finding at presentation was also midline back swelling (60.53%); however, the next common finding was urinary incontinence (47.37%), followed by skin dimple in back (28.95%), fecal incontinence (21.05%), hair tuft (3.33%), and dermal sinus (3.33%) [17].

In our study, lumbosacral spine was the most common region involved in 32 patients (71.1%).

We shared comparable results with Dhingani et al. who found that the lumbosacral spine was the most commonly involved spinal segment found in 52.63% of patients, followed by sacrococcygeal region (34.21%) [17].

Our study results as regards spinal ultrasound are comparable with study by Dhingani et al. which showed that the most common anomaly was tethered cord seen in 23 (79.31%) patients, syrinx (62.06%), MMC (48.27%), and lipomyelomeningeocele (27.58%) [17]. And another study by Taahira Nishtar et al., which revealed that 2 of the studied 53 patients (4%) has diastematomyelia [18].

Dhingani et al. displayed that open SD was found in 14 (36.84%) patients and closed SD was seen in 24 (63.16%) patients. It was found that 26.32% of patients with closed SD had subcutaneous mass, and 14 patients (36.84%) were not having subcutaneous mass. In open SD, myelomeningocele was the most common anomaly accounting for 14 (36.84%) cases [17].

Both spinal USG and MRI were performed in whole 45 cases. Agreement between findings of these two modalities was studied. There were 10 cases aged > 2 years revealed no agreement between MRI and USG findings that there was acoustic shadowing from posterior spinal elements ossification, so ultrasound was unreliable and we could not reach the primary diagnosis by this modality (Fig. 5). Thus, statistics was divided to age groups ≤ 2 years old (before complete ossification of spinal elements) and > 2 years old (after ossification of spinal elements) in order to reach significant results.

Fig. 5

Eight-year-old child presented with congenital scoliosis. a Ultrasound showed no apparent findings due to bone closure. b Coronal T1WI showed two cords with bony septum seperation at L1 level (white arrow), and abnormal vertebral morphology (hemivertebrae, curved arrow). c Axial T2WI showed two cords within one dural sac which are seperated by bony septum at L1 level (type I diastomatomyelia). d Complementary axial images of plain CT (done exceptionally) showed bony spur at L1 level. Final diagnosis is diastomatomyelia (type I). No agreement between USG and MRI findings.

We agreed with Dhingani et al.’s study which showed that 23 out of 29 patients (79.31%) showed full agreement between spinal USG and MRI examinations, and 6 out of 29 patients (20.69%) showed partial agreement. In these six cases with partial agreement; spinal USG missed tethered cord and syrinx in three cases, small lipomatous component in one case of lipomyelomeningeocele, one case of intradural lipoma, and one case of split cord associated with myelomeningocele [17].

In another study by Hughes et al., ultrasound showed full agreement with MRI in 6 of 15 patients (40%), partial agreement in 7 of 15 patients (47%) and no agreement in 2 of 15 patients. Ultrasound missed some findings in some cases as dorsal dermal sinuses, fatty filums, terminal lipoma, partial sacral agenesis, hydromyelia and low-lying cords. However, overall, in 12 of 13 (92%) cases with abnormal MRI, ultrasound identified at least one of the concurrent abnormalities. No agreement was found between ultrasound and MRI in two cases, one being false-positive and the other false-negative. This resulted in an overall false-negative diagnosis in one of 12 patients (8%) with abnormal MRI, and an overall false-positive diagnosis in one of 3 patients with a normal MRI [19].

Dhingani et al., showed that the primary anomaly was identified and diagnosed on USG in 23 of 25 (92%) cases, while the primary anomaly was diagnosed in 25 cases by MRI (4 cases were having isolated vertebral anomalies or sacrococcygeal agenesis). USG is not an ideal modality for identifying other abnormalities associated with spinal dysraphism such as tethered cord, syrinx, and split cord, as compared to MRI [17].

Spinal USG has less sensitivity compared to MRI in detecting closed type of spinal anomalies or other findings associated with the primary anomaly, various vertebral anomalies and kyphoscoliotic deformity. MRI is also superior in identifying the exact extent of detected anomaly such as intraspinal extension of lipomatous tissue; the level, extent and type of split cord; extent of vertebral agenesis; and shape and level of conus termination in the case of caudal regression syndrome (CRS). Thus, MRI identifies all concurrent abnormalities, gives a complete diagnosis, and helps in planning better management.

This study had also some limitations: (1) Spinal ultrasonography is not beneficial after the age of 2 years; (2) most cases of closed spinal dysraphism are not complaining at all or presented to neurosurgery and neurology clinics when they are older either presented by congenital scoliosis or urinary incontinence (after the age of 5 years), so these cases are underdiagnosed by ultrasound, and MRI is the only best modality for their diagnosis. Studies with larger samples are needed to provide more realistic representative results than smaller ones to increase external validity.

Conclusion

Spinal ultrasound can be used as the first-line screening investigation for SD, and those with detected USG abnormalities proceed to spinal MRI. Spinal ultrasound is an easy diagnostic modality; it is safe, non-invasive, inexpensive, does not require sedation and can be performed portably. Spinal ultrasound is of no worth value after the age of bone ossification, so MRI is the best imaging modality for diagnosis of SD in older pediatrics.