E. Turgut Tali MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

1) Identify the basic anatomic, pathologic, and physiologic principles to non-traumatic spinal emergencies, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. 2) Improve basic knowledge and skills relevant to clinical practice. 3) Analyze imaging and therapeutic techniques and apply this knowledge to protocol development, patient management/safety, and cost. 4) Demonstrate understanding of the influence of socioeconomic issues on current and future practice patterns.

Nontraumatic spinal emergencies may result from a variety of causes from congenital/developmental anomalies-abnormalities, degenerative diseases, inflammation, infection, vascular, hematologic and metabolic diseases  to neoplasms. Clinical findings and symptoms may be nonspecific. An optimized imaging strategy is necessary for the accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Congenital/developmental abnormalities are not generally to present emergently. They may be unknown until an unrelated acute event occurs. Degenerative diseases and artropathies may also cause nontraumatic emergencies, spinal cord compression can result from pannus and chronic instability of the rheumatoid arthritis. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, ossification of ligamentum flavum, synovial cysts, and epidural lipomatosis, acute disc extrusion may result in an acute neurologic deficit. Inflammations as multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre, infections are the main causes of the nontraumatic spinal injuries may have an indolent, latent phase prior to objective emergency findings. Vascular and hematologic disorders are present a susceptible group with respect to nontraumatic spinal emergencies. Development of symptoms of the neoplasms is usually slowly progressive, but acute presentations are not uncommon.  

Tali, E, Non-traumatic Spine Emergencies.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/13011791.html