Kalia Vivek, Bizzell Cary, Obray Rick, Obray Jon, Lamer Tim, Carrino John A
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 2010 Sep-Oct;39(5):227-33. doi: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2009.07.010.
Neural stimulation is increasingly used as a treatment for chronic pain. Common indications for spinal cord stimulation include chronic neuropathic and oncological pain, intractable angina, or chronic pain secondary to vascular disease. It is estimated that up to 4 million patients may be candidates for the therapy. Therefore, it is likely that an increasing number of patients will have spinal neurostimulation devices implanted over the coming years. Because radiography and computed tomography are the primary imaging modalities used to evaluate the proper positioning of these devices, radiologists should be familiar with their appearance. The purpose of this article is to discuss the types of neurostimulation devices currently being used and to demonstrate their respective imaging appearances.
