Diagnostic Technology for Spine Pathology

Diagnostic techniques for spinal pathologies have been developed in accordance with advances in technology. Accurate diagnosis of spinal pathology is essential for appropriate management of spinal diseases. In addition to diagnostic imaging technologies, electrodiagnostic tests, including electromyography and nerve conduction studies, play a significant role as diagnostic tools, as spinal diseases are mostly profoundly associated with pathologies of the neural structures In patient-specific treatment strategies, usage of diagnostic modalities is of great importance; thus, we should be aware of the basic details and approaches of the different diagnostic modalities. In this review, the authors discuss the details of the technologies that aid in the diagnosis of spinal pathologies.

• 1
  Plain radiography is the first and most widely used imaging modality for localizing suspected spinal symptoms, including pain, numbness, and weakness.
• 2
  CT allows good visualization of spinal pathologies, including compression of neural structures and diseases of laterally situated structures (such as foraminal stenosis)
• 3
  MRI can identify small soft tissue structures in the spine, including the spinal cord, surrounding vessels, and nerve roots.