MRI characteristics of the neurocentral synchondrosis

• Published in: Pediatric radiology Vol. 32; no. 11; pp. 811 - 816
• Main Authors: RAJWANI, T, BHARGAVA, R, MOREAU, M, MAHOOD, J, RASO, V. J, JIANG, H, BAGNALL, K. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-11-2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Development - physiology; Cartilage, Articular - anatomy & histology; Cartilage, Articular - growth & development; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Diseases of the spine; Female; Growth Plate - anatomy & histology; Growth Plate - physiology; Humans; Infant; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Retrospective Studies; Scoliosis - diagnosis; Thoracic Vertebrae - anatomy & histology; Thoracic Vertebrae - growth & development; Human; Deformation; Spine; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Idiopathic; Spine disease; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Image analysis; Scoliosis; Adolescent; Medical imagery; Diagnosis; Child
• ISSN: 0301-0449; 1432-1998
• DOI: 10.1007/s00247-002-0771-y

The neurocentral synchondrosis (NCS) is a cartilaginous growth plate that since the early 1900s has been implicated as a potential cause of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Previous studies have focused only on the closure age without characterizing normal NCS development. Using MRI, the normal development of the NCS image can be characterized, and the stages preceding the disappearance of this image can be specified.
A total of 405 NCSs were visualized in 11 normal pediatric patients using T1 and T2 transverse and sagittal MRI views. The images were correlated and the variety of images recorded to categorize the NCS into developmental stages.
The development of the NCS was categorized into five developmental stages. The image of the NCS became absent in a specific pattern along the vertebral column, first in the cervical region (age 6), then in the lumbar region (age 12), and finally in the thoracic region (age 14).
The normal development of the NCS at the level of individual vertebrae and also along the vertebral column as a whole was determined using MRI. These patterns of development are valuable and necessary to evaluate the role of the NCS in pathological conditions.