Presence of lateral curvature(s) of spine with Cobb angle of ≥ 10°, often associated with vertebral rotation
2 types
Flexible: Nonstructural, corrects with ipsilateral bending, usually does not progress
Structural: Rigid, does not demonstrate correction with ipsilateral bending
Cobb angle remains ≥ 25° on ipsilateral bending
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
de Oliveira RG et al: Magnetic resonance imaging effectiveness in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine Deform. 9(1):67-73, 2021
Erkilinc M et al: Postoperative correction in idiopathic scoliosis: which preoperative imaging technique is most predictive? J Pediatr Orthop. 41(9):e706-11, 2021
Guglielmi R et al: Preoperative and postoperative imaging in idiopathic scoliosis: what the surgeon wants to know. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 25(1):155-66, 2021
Jarrett DY et al: EOS imaging of scoliosis, leg length discrepancy and alignment. Semin Roentgenol. 56(3):228-44, 2021
Lee TT et al: 3D ultrasound imaging provides reliable angle measurement with validity comparable to x-ray in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Orthop Translat. 29:51-9, 2021
Pang H et al: Using ultrasound to screen for scoliosis to reduce unnecessary radiographic radiation: a prospective diagnostic accuracy study on 442 schoolchildren. Ultrasound Med Biol. 47(9):2598-607, 2021
Pasha S et al: Quantitative imaging of the spine in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: shifting the paradigm from diagnostic to comprehensive prognostic evaluation. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 31(7):1273-85, 2021
Ruffilli A et al: Does use of pre-operative low-dose CT-scan in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis improve accuracy in screw placement? Results of a retrospective study. Spine Deform. 9(5):1403-10, 2021
Chen J et al: Risk factors for neurological complications in severe and rigid spinal deformity correction of 177 cases. BMC Neurol. 20(1):433, 2020
El-Hawary R et al: VEPTR treatment of early onset scoliosis in children without rib abnormalities: long-term results of a prospective, multicenter study. J Pediatr Orthop. 40(6):e406-12, 2020
Girdler S et al: Emerging techniques in diagnostic imaging for idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents: a review of the literature. World Neurosurg. 136:128-35, 2020
Qiu C et al: Patient-reported outcomes are equivalent in patients who receive vertebral body tethering versus posterior spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Orthopedics. 1-5, 2020
Mackel CE et al: A comprehensive review of the diagnosis and management of congenital scoliosis. Childs Nerv Syst. 34(11):2155-71, 2018
Tully PA et al: Should all paediatric patients with presumed idiopathic scoliosis undergo MRI screening for neuro-axial disease? Childs Nerv Syst. 34(11):2173-8, 2018
Cheung JP et al: Clinical utility of ultrasound to prospectively monitor distraction of magnetically controlled growing rods. Spine J. 16(2):204-9, 2016
Hirsch C et al: Flexibility analysis in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis on side-bending images using the EOS imaging system. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 102(4):495-500, 2016
Melhem E et al: EOS(®) biplanar X-ray imaging: concept, developments, benefits, and limitations. J Child Orthop. 10(1):1-14, 2016
Wang Q et al: Validity study of vertebral rotation measurement using 3-D ultrasound in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Ultrasound Med Biol. 42(7):1473-81, 2016
Zhang W et al: The prevalence of intraspinal anomalies in infantile and juvenile patients with "presumed idiopathic" scoliosis: a MRI-based analysis of 504 patients. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 17(1):189, 2016
Kim H et al: Scoliosis imaging: what radiologists should know. Radiographics. 30(7):1823-42, 2010
Inoue M et al: Preoperative MRI analysis of patients with idiopathic scoliosis: a prospective study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 30(1):108-14, 2005
Richards BS et al: Standardization of criteria for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis brace studies: SRS Committee on Bracing and Nonoperative Management. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 30(18):2068-75; discussion 2076-7, 2005
Hedequist D et al: Congenital scoliosis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 12(4):266-75, 2004
Christodoulou A et al: Idiopathic scoliosis. Segmental fusion with transpedicular screws. Stud Health Technol Inform. 91:433-7, 2002
Goldberg CJ et al: The natural history of early onset scoliosis. Stud Health Technol Inform. 91:68-70, 2002
Vitale MG et al: Orthopaedic manifestations of neurofibromatosis in children: an update. Clin Orthop Relat Res. (401):107-18, 2002
Mohanty S et al: Patterns of presentation of congenital scoliosis. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 8(2):33-7, 2000
Nokes SR et al: Childhood scoliosis: MR imaging. Radiology. 164(3):791-7, 1987
Presence of lateral curvature(s) of spine with Cobb angle of ≥ 10°, often associated with vertebral rotation
2 types
Flexible: Nonstructural, corrects with ipsilateral bending, usually does not progress
Structural: Rigid, does not demonstrate correction with ipsilateral bending
Cobb angle remains ≥ 25° on ipsilateral bending
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
de Oliveira RG et al: Magnetic resonance imaging effectiveness in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine Deform. 9(1):67-73, 2021
Erkilinc M et al: Postoperative correction in idiopathic scoliosis: which preoperative imaging technique is most predictive? J Pediatr Orthop. 41(9):e706-11, 2021
Guglielmi R et al: Preoperative and postoperative imaging in idiopathic scoliosis: what the surgeon wants to know. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 25(1):155-66, 2021
Jarrett DY et al: EOS imaging of scoliosis, leg length discrepancy and alignment. Semin Roentgenol. 56(3):228-44, 2021
Lee TT et al: 3D ultrasound imaging provides reliable angle measurement with validity comparable to x-ray in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Orthop Translat. 29:51-9, 2021
Pang H et al: Using ultrasound to screen for scoliosis to reduce unnecessary radiographic radiation: a prospective diagnostic accuracy study on 442 schoolchildren. Ultrasound Med Biol. 47(9):2598-607, 2021
Pasha S et al: Quantitative imaging of the spine in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: shifting the paradigm from diagnostic to comprehensive prognostic evaluation. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 31(7):1273-85, 2021
Ruffilli A et al: Does use of pre-operative low-dose CT-scan in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis improve accuracy in screw placement? Results of a retrospective study. Spine Deform. 9(5):1403-10, 2021
Chen J et al: Risk factors for neurological complications in severe and rigid spinal deformity correction of 177 cases. BMC Neurol. 20(1):433, 2020
El-Hawary R et al: VEPTR treatment of early onset scoliosis in children without rib abnormalities: long-term results of a prospective, multicenter study. J Pediatr Orthop. 40(6):e406-12, 2020
Girdler S et al: Emerging techniques in diagnostic imaging for idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents: a review of the literature. World Neurosurg. 136:128-35, 2020
Qiu C et al: Patient-reported outcomes are equivalent in patients who receive vertebral body tethering versus posterior spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Orthopedics. 1-5, 2020
Mackel CE et al: A comprehensive review of the diagnosis and management of congenital scoliosis. Childs Nerv Syst. 34(11):2155-71, 2018
Tully PA et al: Should all paediatric patients with presumed idiopathic scoliosis undergo MRI screening for neuro-axial disease? Childs Nerv Syst. 34(11):2173-8, 2018
Cheung JP et al: Clinical utility of ultrasound to prospectively monitor distraction of magnetically controlled growing rods. Spine J. 16(2):204-9, 2016
Hirsch C et al: Flexibility analysis in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis on side-bending images using the EOS imaging system. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 102(4):495-500, 2016
Melhem E et al: EOS(®) biplanar X-ray imaging: concept, developments, benefits, and limitations. J Child Orthop. 10(1):1-14, 2016
Wang Q et al: Validity study of vertebral rotation measurement using 3-D ultrasound in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Ultrasound Med Biol. 42(7):1473-81, 2016
Zhang W et al: The prevalence of intraspinal anomalies in infantile and juvenile patients with "presumed idiopathic" scoliosis: a MRI-based analysis of 504 patients. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 17(1):189, 2016
Kim H et al: Scoliosis imaging: what radiologists should know. Radiographics. 30(7):1823-42, 2010
Inoue M et al: Preoperative MRI analysis of patients with idiopathic scoliosis: a prospective study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 30(1):108-14, 2005
Richards BS et al: Standardization of criteria for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis brace studies: SRS Committee on Bracing and Nonoperative Management. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 30(18):2068-75; discussion 2076-7, 2005
Hedequist D et al: Congenital scoliosis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 12(4):266-75, 2004
Christodoulou A et al: Idiopathic scoliosis. Segmental fusion with transpedicular screws. Stud Health Technol Inform. 91:433-7, 2002
Goldberg CJ et al: The natural history of early onset scoliosis. Stud Health Technol Inform. 91:68-70, 2002
Vitale MG et al: Orthopaedic manifestations of neurofibromatosis in children: an update. Clin Orthop Relat Res. (401):107-18, 2002
Mohanty S et al: Patterns of presentation of congenital scoliosis. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 8(2):33-7, 2000
Nokes SR et al: Childhood scoliosis: MR imaging. Radiology. 164(3):791-7, 1987
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