• Lin Ou-Yang and Guang-Ming Lu.
• *Postdoctor Workstation of Medical Image, Nanjing General Hospital, Nanjing Military Command, Nanjing, China †Department of Medical Image, Southeast Hospital, Medical College, Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China ‡Department of Medical image, Nanjing General Hospital, Nanjing Military Command, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
• Spine. 2016 Nov 1; 41 (21): E1284-E1291.

Study DesignCross-sectional study.ObjectiveTo explore the underlying anatomy of May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) using computed tomography (CT) and discuss its clinical significance for typing diagnosis.Summary Of Background DataBecause the anatomical position of the corpse cannot fully illustrate the actual clinical situation in vivo, the diversity of MTS has not been fully elucidated yet.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of 69 patients with MTS. By CT showing, patients were categorized to simple MTS (sMTS, 22 patients), lumbar degeneration-related MTS (dMTS, 33 patients) and other causes MTS (oMTS, 14 patients); meanwhile, a healthy control group were set. Evaluated indexes were onset age, course of disease, diameter of the iliac vein tunnel (IVTD), lumbar degeneration-related iliac vein compression (IVC), therapeutic effect, and diagnostic cutoff of risk IVTD prone to MTS.ResultsThe onset age of sMTS, dMTS, and oMTS were respectively 42.3 ± 6.5 years, 61.5 ± 10.6 years, and 53.1 ± 16.8 years (P < 0.001); courses were respectively 12.1 ± 9.2 days, 22.5 ± 7.6 days, and 6.8 ± 6.7 days (P = 0.002). IVTDs of sMTS, dMTS, oMTS, and the control were respectively 2.52 ± 0.50 mm, 2.29 ± 0.30 mm, 5.93 ± 2.21 mm, and 4.34 ± 1.61 mm (P < 0.001). Lumbar degeneration-related IVC in dMTS occurred at 41 places, including forward bulging or protruding intervertebral discs (51%,17/33), osteophytes (50%,16/33), and spondylolisthesis (19%, 8/33), but none happened in sMTS, oMTS, and the control. Eighty-six percent of sMTSs, 55% dMTSs, and none oMTSs needed intravenous stent-implanted operation to obtain effective treatment. MTS type (Waldχ = 6.092, P = 0.009), course (Waldχ = 4.618, P = 0.032), and treatment plan (Waldχ = 14.748, P < 0.001) markedly influence the therapeutic result. The cutoff of risk IVTD for sMTS and dMTS was 2.98 mm, which diagnostic sensitivity was 90% and specificity 100%.ConclusionOwing to the distinct pathoanatomy and causes, diagnosis in classification of MTS by CT is helpful in accurate treatment program.Level Of Evidence3.

6 keywords...

hide…