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Spinal Imaging pp 567–588Cite as

Imaging of the Sacrum

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Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

The sacrum is a large bone composed of five fused vertebrae, which contributes stability and strength to the pelvis, transmitting the weight of the body to the pelvic girdle. It is located at the crossroads of the pelvis and lower extremities, and the anatomy and pathology of the sacrum is of interest to neuroradiologists as well as to body imagers. Plain films are often non-diagnostic for this region, due to the relatively complex anatomy of the sacrum and the adjacent pelvic bones and due to overlying bowel. Therefore, depending on the specific clinical situations, a variety of cross-sectional imaging techniques are of value for sacral imaging, including CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine studies, and in some of these situations these techniques are complementary to each other. Cross-sectional imaging is also valuable for guiding interventional procedures on the sacrum.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Winthrop-University Hospital, 259 First Street, Mineola, NY, 11501, USA

    Andrew Y. Choi MD, A. Orlando Ortiz MD, MBA & Douglas S. Katz MD

  2. 239 Douglas Rd, Staten Island, NY, 10304, USA

    Steven J. Lypen BS

Authors
  1. Andrew Y. Choi MD
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  2. A. Orlando Ortiz MD, MBA
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  3. Douglas S. Katz MD
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  4. Steven J. Lypen BS
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Antwerpen, Wilrijkstraat, 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium

    Johan W. M. Van Goethem MD, PhD , Luc van den Hauwe MD  & Paul M. Parizel MD, PhD ,  & 

  2. Department of Radiology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Nikolaas, Moerlandstraat 1, 9100, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

    Johan W. M. Van Goethem MD, PhD

  3. Department of Radiology, AZ KLINA, Augustijnslei 100, 2930, Brasschaat, Belgium

    Luc van den Hauwe MD

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Choi, A.Y., Ortiz, A.O., Katz, D.S., Lypen, S.J. (2007). Imaging of the Sacrum. In: Van Goethem, J.W.M., van den Hauwe, L., Parizel, P.M. (eds) Spinal Imaging. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68483-1_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68483-1_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-21344-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-68483-1

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