J Korean Radiol Soc.  1988 Oct;24(5):707-715. 10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.5.707.

Normal measurement of spinal cord and dural sac by CT myelography

• Yun KS
• Choi YW
• Han MH
• Chang KH

• KMID: 2359201
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.5.707

Abstract

The data on the normal measurement of spinal cord are essential for an objective assessment of equivocal change of spinal cord size in the various clinical settings. The present study was therefore undertaken toevaluate normal range of spinal cord dimensitons in Koreans. CT myelography of the cervical and thoracic regionwas performed in 60 patients who had symptoms referable to lumbosacral region and then CT measurement of spinalcord and dural sac was performed. The results are as follows: 1. The anteroposterior diameter of spinal cord wasmaximum at C1 level(8.6±1.4mm) and minimum at T6 level(6.4±1.7mm). 2. The transverse diameter of spinal cord wasmaximum at C4 and C5 levels(13.3±1.6mm) and minimum at T8(8.1±1.9mm) and T10(8.1±1.3mm)levels. 3. The area ofspinal cord was maximum at C5 level(76±16mm2) and minimum at T6(40±24mm2) and T8(40±23mm2) levels. 4. The ratioof anteroposterior diameter/transverse diameter of spinal cord was smallest at C4(0.57±0.11) and C5(0.57±0.09)levels and largest at T12(0.9±0.17) level. 5. The ratio of anteroposterior diameter of spinal cord/dural sac wasmaximum at C4 level(0.73±0.14) and minimum at T12 level(0.52±0.15). The ratio of transverse diameter of spinalcord/dural sac was mizimum at C3(0.66±0.10) and C4(0.66±0.14) levels and minimum at T12 level (0.46±0.18). Theratio of area of spinal cord/dural sac was maximum at C3 level(0.48±0.13) and minimum at T12 level (0.29±0.20).6. The location of cervical cord in dural sac was mainly ventral (56%) at C1 level, middle (40-73%) from C2 to C6level and dorsal (44%) at C7 level. The location of thoracic cord in dural sac was chiefly middle (61%) at T2level and lower thoracic level(T10:60% and T12:51%) and mainly ventral (59-84%) at other levels.

MeSH Terms

Cervical Cord
Humans
Lumbosacral Region
Myelography*
Reference Values
Spinal Cord*