Scoliosis on X-ray: 16 real cases

Real, openly licensed radiographs showing scoliosis. Study what to look for, then open each case and read it yourself before revealing the answer.

What to look for

  • Lateral curvature of the spine on the frontal view, often with vertebral rotation.
  • Severity is measured with the Cobb angle between the most tilted end vertebrae; scoliosis is usually defined as a Cobb angle of 10° or more.
  • Look for congenital vertebral anomalies (hemivertebrae) that may cause it.

Learn: Spondylolisthesis and degenerative spine

Quiz yourself on spine images

Cases

Radiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #6929239Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #16043602Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17316404Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17329405Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17326221Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17326243Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17326252Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17327907Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17336099Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17605829Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #17738305Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #16043584Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #20714569Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #4393998Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #4529611Spine · BeginnerRadiograph from the case bank: ScoliosisCase #37349465Spine · Beginner

Other spine diagnoses

Diagnoses come from each image's documented source. Credits and licences are shown on each case and on the image credits page.