Back to the scanner: Expected and unexpected imaging findings following spinal puncture and access

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Spinal canal procedures to withdraw fluid or introduce drugs are common minimally invasive techniques after which patients may experience new symptoms causing presentation to the emergency department. CT or MR imaging as part of the diagnostic workup may reveal expected or unexpected findings which may explain these symptoms. Small foci of gas within the spinal canal or intracranial compartment are common but are usually self-limited. Postlumbar puncture headache, presumed to be due to intracranial hypotension, may manifest on brain MR as dural thickening and low-lying cerebellar tonsils. Treatment with a blood patch is sometimes required for persistent symptoms. Spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage may be a devastating complication of dural puncture and may result in pain and paraplegia. In this review, technical details of these procedures are described and examples of common and uncommon postprocedure appearances on imaging are presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)291-297
Number of pages7
JournalEmergency Radiology
Volume20
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013

Keywords

  • Complications
  • Epidural
  • Imaging
  • Lumbar puncture
  • Postlumbar puncture headache

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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