Abnormal Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

  • Etiology: Chiari malformation, syrinx, spinal cord tumor, vertebral body tumor
  • Imaging Radiograph: Left thoracic curve (levoscoliosis) = thoracic spine convex left should be investigated further with MRI to determine underlying cause of scoliosis
  • DDX:
  • Complications: Scoliosis rods occasionally fracture
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical: Presents in teens

Radiology Cases of Abnormal Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Radiograph and MRI of abnormal adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
AP radiograph of the spine (left) shows thoracic scoliosis convex left (levoscoliosis) with a compensatory lumbar scoliosis convex right, thus this is an atypical scoliosis curve for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Sagittal T1 MRI without contrast of the cervical spine (above right) shows the tip of the cerebellar tonsils over 10 mm beneath the foramen magnum. Sagittal and axial T2 MRI of the thoracic spine (below right) show a large syrinx in the center of the thoracic spinal cord.