Abnormalities on Spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children and Adolescents: A Two-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.
Only 19.2% of pediatric spinal MRIs showed abnormalities related to symptoms
Abnormalities on Spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children and Adolescents: A Two-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is frequently used to evaluate back pain and other spinal indications in the pediatric population.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of spinal abnormalities detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in children and adolescents and to identify factors associated with Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings of added diagnostic value.
A retrospective two-centre cohort study was conducted among 229 patients aged 0-16 years who underwent spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging at two hospitals.
When the 'added value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging' group is compared to the 'no added value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging group', neurological abnormalities ( p = 0.009) and shorter symptom duration ( p = 0.002) were statistically associated with abnormal Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings.
Stratified analysis showed that MRIs provided added diagnostic value more frequently in patients with clinical indications other than chronic back pain.
Most abnormalities were located in the lumbar spine, with spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis and discopathy as the most common findings.
Although spinal MRIs frequently detected abnormalities, only a small proportion of MRIs revealed findings that provided added diagnostic or therapeutic value.
This highlights the importance of developing clear criteria for spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging use in children and adolescents to minimize unnecessary imaging, limit patient burden, and optimize healthcare resources.