Detection of a lumbar foraminal venous varix by Color Doppler Ultrasound

Ultrasonography is currently widely used in the rheumatology practice. Although mainly performed to study peripheral joint, several articles have underlined its interest to study spinal anatomy. However, its ability to provide diagnostic features is unknown. We studied the case of a 25-year-old woman having low back pain. Three different imaging modalities (Computed Tomography [CT], Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] and Ultrasound) were used to explore it. CT and MRI showed a foraminal dilation of the lombo-ovarian vein at the L3-L4 level with a scalloping of the lateral edge of L3. We were able to detect it with Color Doppler Ultrasound and a malformation of the inferior vena cava was also found. We showed for the first time that Color Doppler Ultrasound can detect venous malformation of the spine. This imaging modality could help us in the diagnosis of atypical lesions of the spine to confirm their vascular origin.