CONSENSUS PAPER   

Journal of Radiological Review 2020 September-October;7(5):335-45

DOI: 10.23736/S2723-9284.20.00053-X

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

AINR and SIRM recommendations on acquisition, interpretation and reporting of magnetic resonance imaging examination of spinal degenerative pathology

Francesca B. PIZZINI ¹ ✉, Mattia POLETTI ¹, Alberto BELTRAMELLO ², Mario MUTO ³, Alessandra SPLENDIANI ⁴, Sara MEHRABI ¹, Antonio BARILE ⁴, Stefano COLAGRANDE ⁵, Giancarlo MANSUETO ¹, Stefano BASTIANELLO ^{6, 7}, Italian Association of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology (AINR), Società Italiana di Radiologia Medica e Interventistica (SIRM) 

¹ Unit of Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; ² Department of Radiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria, Negrar, Verona, Italy; ³ Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy; ⁴ Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy; ⁵ Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Radiodiagnostic Unit n. 2, University Hospital of Careggi, Florence, Italy; ⁶ Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; ⁷ Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

BACKGROUND: To promote a better radiological interpretation of spine degeneration, a consistent standardization of the acquisition, interpretation and description of radiological findings.
METHODS: The objective was achieved through a consensus among experts in degenerative spine disease (DSD) from Italian radiological societies (Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology [SIRM], Italian Association of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology [AINR]). The representatives of the Italian inter-societal working group examined the literature produced by European/American task forces on optimization of the study sequences, classification of degenerative disc changes, spondylo-arthrosis, osteochondrosis, synovial and ligament pathologies of the spinal column, and on canal and foraminal stenosis.
RESULTS: The document presents a proposal for an optimized MRI protocol for the study of the spinal degenerative disease and provides a glossary of terms related to this pathology and indications on their use. The international terminological recommendations have been translated and adapted to the Italian language and clinical cases have been used to illustrate some of the main classifications.
CONCLUSIONS: This revision and consensus made it possible to: 1) update the nomenclature to international standards; and 2) harmonize the study and description of radiological findings in the Italian context. The work has an impact both on communication between doctors and between doctor/patient and on the quality of the diagnostic report.

KEY WORDS: Spine; Intervertebral disc; Hernia; Consensus; Magnetic resonance imaging