McGregor Line

Last edit by Alaric Steinmetz on

The McGregor line connects the posterior border of the hard palate with the most caudally located point of the occiput1.

Interpretation

The dens axis should not extend more than 4.5 mm beyond this line2. On MRI3 and CT4 images, the dens axis is on average 0.8 (± 2.4) mm above this line.

Imaging

McGregor line on CT
Visualization of the McGregor line on sagittal CT.

References

    1. McGregor J. The Significance of Certain Measurements of the Skull in the Diagnosis of Basilar Impression. Br J Radiol. 1948;21:171-181 ↩ ↩

    2. Imaging and Diagnostics. In: Greenberg M, ed. Handbook of Neurosurgery. 9th Edition. Thieme; 2019. ↩ ↩

    3. Cronin CG, Lohan DG, Mhuircheartigh J N, et al. MRI evaluation and measurement of the normal odontoid peg position. Clin Radiol. 2007;62:897-903. ↩ ↩

    4. Cronin CG, Lohan DG, Mhuircheartigh J N, et al. CT evaluation of Chamberlains, McGregors, and McRaes skull-base lines. Clin Radiol. 2009;64:64-69. ↩ ↩

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