Skip to main content
Advertisement

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Accepted Manuscripts
    • Article Preview
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Video Articles
    • AJNR Case Collection
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
  • Special Collections
    • AJNR Awards
    • Low-Field MRI
    • Alzheimer Disease
    • ASNR Foundation Special Collection
    • Photon-Counting CT
    • View All
  • Multimedia
    • AJNR Podcasts
    • AJNR SCANtastic
    • Trainee Corner
    • MRI Safety Corner
    • Imaging Protocols
  • For Authors
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Submit a Video Article
    • Submit an eLetter to the Editor/Response
    • Manuscript Submission Guidelines
    • Statistical Tips
    • Fast Publishing of Accepted Manuscripts
    • Graphical Abstract Preparation
    • Imaging Protocol Submission
    • Author Policies
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editorial Board
    • Editorial Board Alumni
  • More
    • Become a Reviewer/Academy of Reviewers
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Advertisers
    • ASNR Home

User menu

  • Alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
American Journal of Neuroradiology
American Journal of Neuroradiology

American Journal of Neuroradiology

ASHNR American Society of Functional Neuroradiology ASHNR American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology ASSR
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Accepted Manuscripts
    • Article Preview
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Video Articles
    • AJNR Case Collection
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
  • Special Collections
    • AJNR Awards
    • Low-Field MRI
    • Alzheimer Disease
    • ASNR Foundation Special Collection
    • Photon-Counting CT
    • View All
  • Multimedia
    • AJNR Podcasts
    • AJNR SCANtastic
    • Trainee Corner
    • MRI Safety Corner
    • Imaging Protocols
  • For Authors
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Submit a Video Article
    • Submit an eLetter to the Editor/Response
    • Manuscript Submission Guidelines
    • Statistical Tips
    • Fast Publishing of Accepted Manuscripts
    • Graphical Abstract Preparation
    • Imaging Protocol Submission
    • Author Policies
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editorial Board
    • Editorial Board Alumni
  • More
    • Become a Reviewer/Academy of Reviewers
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Advertisers
    • ASNR Home
  • Follow AJNR on Twitter
  • Visit AJNR on Facebook
  • Follow AJNR on Instagram
  • Join AJNR on LinkedIn
  • RSS Feeds

AJNR Awards, New Junior Editors, and more. Read the latest AJNR updates

Research ArticleSpine Imaging and Spine Image-Guided Interventions

Reliability of the STIR Sequence for Acute Type II Odontoid Fractures

F.D. Lensing, E.F. Bisson, R.H. Wiggins and L.M. Shah
American Journal of Neuroradiology August 2014, 35 (8) 1642-1646; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A3962
F.D. Lensing
aFrom the Departments of Radiology (F.D.L., R.H.W., L.M.S.)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
E.F. Bisson
bNeurosurgery (E.F.B.), University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
R.H. Wiggins III
aFrom the Departments of Radiology (F.D.L., R.H.W., L.M.S.)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
L.M. Shah
aFrom the Departments of Radiology (F.D.L., R.H.W., L.M.S.)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • Responses
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The STIR sequence is routinely used to assess acute traumatic osseous injury. Because the composition of the odontoid in older individuals may be altered with osteopenia and decreased vascularity, the STIR sequence may not accurately depict the acuity of an odontoid fracture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the STIR sequence to differentiate acute-versus-chronic type II odontoid fractures in older patients, particularly those with osteopenia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for patients with type II odontoid fractures during a 10-year period with both CT and MR imaging performed within 24 hours of injury. Patients were paired with controls of similar ages and were grouped by age. The STIR images were evaluated in a blinded fashion for the presence of hyperintensity in the odontoid. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also recorded.

RESULTS: Seventy-five patients with type II odontoid fracture and 75 healthy controls (mean and median age of 57 years) were identified. The sensitivity of STIR to detect fracture in the age group 57 years and older was significantly worse than that in the age group younger than 57 years (54% and 82%, respectively; P = .018).

CONCLUSIONS: Older patients, particularly those with osteopenia, may have acute odontoid injuries without corresponding STIR hyperintensity. Additionally, interobserver agreement in STIR interpretation decreases with increasing patient age. As such, in this patient population, in which the presence of bone marrow edema as an indicator of fracture acuity may impact therapeutic decisions, correlation with CT findings and clinical history is crucial.

  • © 2014 by American Journal of Neuroradiology
View Full Text
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

American Journal of Neuroradiology: 35 (8)
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Vol. 35, Issue 8
1 Aug 2014
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
  • Complete Issue (PDF)
Advertisement
Print
Download PDF
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Journal of Neuroradiology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Reliability of the STIR Sequence for Acute Type II Odontoid Fractures
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Journal of Neuroradiology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Journal of Neuroradiology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Cite this article
F.D. Lensing, E.F. Bisson, R.H. Wiggins, L.M. Shah
Reliability of the STIR Sequence for Acute Type II Odontoid Fractures
American Journal of Neuroradiology Aug 2014, 35 (8) 1642-1646; DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A3962

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
0 Responses
Respond to this article
Share
Bookmark this article
Reliability of the STIR Sequence for Acute Type II Odontoid Fractures
F.D. Lensing, E.F. Bisson, R.H. Wiggins, L.M. Shah
American Journal of Neuroradiology Aug 2014, 35 (8) 1642-1646; DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A3962
del.icio.us logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Purchase

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Materials and Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Conclusions
    • Footnotes
    • REFERENCES
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • Responses
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Diagnostic Utility of Increased STIR Signal in the Posterior Atlanto-Occipital and Atlantoaxial Membrane Complex on MRI in Acute C1-C2 Fracture
  • Crossref
  • Google Scholar

This article has not yet been cited by articles in journals that are participating in Crossref Cited-by Linking.

More in this TOC Section

  • Optimization of Photon Counting CT Myelography
  • Characteristics of SIH Type I Culprit Lesions
  • Management Outcomes For VO Spine Biopsy
Show more Spine Imaging and Spine Image-Guided Interventions

Similar Articles

Advertisement

Indexed Content

  • Current Issue
  • Accepted Manuscripts
  • Article Preview
  • Past Issues
  • Editorials
  • Editor's Choice
  • Fellows' Journal Club
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Video Articles

Cases

  • Case Collection
  • Archive - Case of the Week
  • Archive - Case of the Month
  • Archive - Classic Case

More from AJNR

  • Trainee Corner
  • Imaging Protocols
  • MRI Safety Corner
  • Book Reviews

Multimedia

  • AJNR Podcasts
  • AJNR Scantastics

Resources

  • Turnaround Time
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Submit a Video Article
  • Submit an eLetter to the Editor/Response
  • Manuscript Submission Guidelines
  • Statistical Tips
  • Fast Publishing of Accepted Manuscripts
  • Graphical Abstract Preparation
  • Imaging Protocol Submission
  • Evidence-Based Medicine Level Guide
  • Publishing Checklists
  • Author Policies
  • Become a Reviewer/Academy of Reviewers
  • News and Updates

About Us

  • About AJNR
  • Editorial Board
  • Editorial Board Alumni
  • Alerts
  • Permissions
  • Not an AJNR Subscriber? Join Now
  • Advertise with Us
  • Librarian Resources
  • Feedback
  • Terms and Conditions
  • AJNR Editorial Board Alumni

American Society of Neuroradiology

  • Not an ASNR Member? Join Now

© 2025 by the American Society of Neuroradiology All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.
Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X

Powered by HighWire