For axial views, you need to start with identifiable structures, In the lumbar spine, that would be the sacrum. You then move the slice up until you identify the L5-S1 disc. For the cervical spine, start with the vertebral body of C2 as it is shaped like no other vertebral body. Continue moving up (or down in the case of the cervical spine) and count the disc spaces as you go. You do have to know if these slices are “stacks” or discal cuts to be able to identify the disc spaces.
Stacks run the slices up parallel to each other so there will be oblique views of L5-S1. In discal cuts, the technician will cut parallel to each disc space and about 5 slices will be devoted to each level. These discal cuts will typically bypass the pars interarticularis unfortunately.
For the sagittal cuts, the aorta will be on the left and vena cava will be on the right. The aorta has thicker walls and is more rounded while the vena cava will be more oval shaped. Also, sagittal images normally start from the left and run to the right but that is not always the case.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
