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Imaging of spinal infection
1Institute of Clinical Radiology, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, GroBhadern, Munich, Germany. axel.staebler@ikra.med.uni-muenchen.de
Radiologic Clinics of North America
|February 28, 2001
Summary
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is crucial for diagnosing spinal inflammatory disorders. It helps differentiate infections like spondylitis, revealing characteristic changes in vertebrae and discs, aiding in treatment planning.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Spinal Imaging
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the primary tool for evaluating spinal inflammatory conditions.
- Infectious spondylitis involves adjacent vertebrae and discs, showing bone marrow edema (BME) and endplate destruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail MR imaging findings in spinal inflammatory disorders.
- To differentiate infectious spondylitis from other conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of MR imaging characteristics of infectious spondylitis.
- Analysis of imaging findings including BME, disk changes, and enhancement patterns.
Main Results:
- MR imaging detects vertebral and disk abnormalities, including BME and signal changes on T2-weighted/STIR images.
- Gadolinium enhancement highlights infections, abscesses, and granulation tissue.
- Granulomatous infections and chronic spondylitis show distinct patterns, potentially mimicking neoplastic disease.
Conclusions:
- MR imaging is essential for diagnosing and staging spinal infections.
- Characteristic imaging findings aid in differentiating bacterial from granulomatous spondylitis.
- Erosive osteochondrosis is a key differential diagnosis for bacterial spondylitis.