الفهرس 
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Abstract
Summary
Healthcare providers require accurate and timely diagnostic approaches to effectively intervene in these anomalies. The complexities range from open and closed spinal dysraphisms to diverse clinical presentations, necessitating diagnostic tools that are not only reliable but also feasible for the vulnerable pediatric demographic. Among the available diagnostic modalities, spinal ultrasound stands out as a promising candidate, offering advantages such as accessibility, absence of ionizing radiation, and potential cost-effectiveness.
Over the years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been the gold standard for evaluating spinal anomalies, providing detailed anatomical information. However, the invasiveness, requirement for sedation in young children, and the considerable cost associated with MRI underscore the need for alternative or complementary diagnostic approaches.
Spinal ultrasound, traditionally employed in neonatal care, has been increasingly recognized for its potential in assessing spinal anomalies in pediatric patients. Its non-invasive nature, portability, and ability to be performed at the bedside make it an appealing initial screening tool.
The prevalence of spinal anomalies in the pediatric population, while not exceedingly common, mandates vigilant screening, especially in cases where clinical suspicion arises. Cutaneous manifestations, such as back swelling, hair tufts, or sacral dimples, often serve as clinical indicators, prompting further investigation.
Therefore, this study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of spinal ultrasound as initial modality for screening of pediatrics spinal anomalies in comparison to MRI.
This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the radiology department of Benha University Hospital from November 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. Pediatric patients with clinically suspected spinal cord disorders, referred for both spinal MRI and spinal ultrasonography, were included. Detailed history, clinical examinations, spinal ultrasound, and MRI assessments were performed. The diagnostic accuracy of spinal ultrasound was evaluated against the gold standard MRI, considering various spinal anomalies and their subtypes.
Summary of our results:
• The mean age of the studied patients was 23.44 ± 32.02 days. The majority of cases (93.33%) were less than 60 days old, while 6.7% were more than 60 days old. Females represented 68.9%, males 22.2%, and 8.9% had ambiguous genitalia.
• Back swelling was the most common clinical presentation, observed in 57.78% of the patients, followed by hair tuft (31.11%) and sacral dimple (24.44%). Other notable presentations included hydrocephalus (17.78%), Chiari syndrome (15.56%), and discharge (13.33%). It is worth noting that several presentations had lower frequencies, such as muscle weakness, abnormal shape lower limb, and post-correction of meningocele, each occurring in only 2.22% of the patients.
•According to the site of spinal anomalies, 80% had lumbosacral involvement. The next most commonly affected site was the sacral