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Retained Intracranial and Intraspinal Foreign Bodies

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Imaging of Foreign Bodies

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Abstract

Radiologic assessment of penetrating cranial or spinal injuries and possible resultant foreign bodies can include plain films, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Plain films are limited in their ability to delineate soft tissue and precisely localize radiopaque foreign bodies with respect to their intracranial or intraspinal location. This often necessitates a multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) examination, which facilitates localization and better demonstrate other injuries such as fractures. While MDCT has much greater sensitivity than plain films in detecting foreign bodies, it may fail to detect wood fragments, as wood and air can have a similar hypodense CT appearance. MRI of penetrating cranial or spinal injuries may be limited or contraindicated by the metallic and/or ferromagnetic properties of the foreign body.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroradiology Service, Cardarelli Hospital, 7, Cardarelli Street, 80100, Naples, Italy

    Gianluigi Guarnieri & Mario Muto

  2. Neurosurgery Unit, Cardarelli Hospital, 7, Cardarelli Street, 80100, Naples, Italy

    Luigi Genovese

Authors
  1. Gianluigi Guarnieri
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  2. Luigi Genovese
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  3. Mario Muto
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gianluigi Guarnieri .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiological Imaging, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy

    Antonio Pinto

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiological Imaging, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy

    Luigia Romano

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Guarnieri, G., Genovese, L., Muto, M. (2014). Retained Intracranial and Intraspinal Foreign Bodies. In: Pinto, A., Romano, L. (eds) Imaging of Foreign Bodies. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5406-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5406-6_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-5405-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-5406-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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