Isolated solitary vertebral body tuberculosis--study of seven cases. Clin Radiol 2003 Jul;58(7):545-50
Date
07/02/2003Pubmed ID
12834638DOI
10.1016/s0009-9260(03)00120-xScopus ID
2-s2.0-0038083100 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 18 CitationsAbstract
AIM: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in isolated solitary vertebral body tuberculosis. Also to emphasize tuberculosis as an important entity, besides neoplasms, in the differential diagnosis of pathologies involving a single vertebral body.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical and imaging features of seven patients (four men and three women; age range 18-60 years), with proved solitary vertebral body tuberculosis were retrospectively studied.
RESULTS: Isolated solitary vertebral body tuberculosis is seen in only 1.69% of the total proven cases of spine tuberculosis seen in our institute between 1993 and 2002. All patients presented with constitutional symptoms and localized pain and tenderness. MRI showed decreased signal intensity on T1-weighted images and increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Cortical break was seen in three patients of whom epidural and pre-vertebral extensions were seen in one each.
CONCLUSIONS: Although tuberculosis affecting a solitary vertebral body is rare it should be considered as an important differential diagnosis, besides neoplasms. In these cases MRI serves as the best imaging technique available for diagnosis. However, confirmation can only be made on histopathology or culture of the specimen.
Author List
Lolge S, Maheshwari M, Shah J, Patkar D, Chawla AAuthor
Mohit Maheshwari MD Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Lumbar Vertebrae
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Radiography
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Neoplasms
Tuberculosis, Spinal
