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MR imaging features of hemispherical spondylosclerosis
Joao R T Vicentini1, Edgar L Martinez-Salazar1, Connie Y Chang1
1Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, YAW 6048, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Skeletal Radiology
|June 30, 2017
Summary
Hemispherical spondylosclerosis (HS) is a rare vertebral condition. MR imaging shows variable signal intensity, with disk degeneration and endplate erosions being key diagnostic markers.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Orthopedic Imaging
- Spine Imaging
Background:
- Hemispherical spondylosclerosis (HS) is a rare degenerative vertebral condition.
- HS can present as a diagnostic challenge due to its unique presentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of Hemispherical spondylosclerosis (HS).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of spine radiographs, CT, and MR imaging in 11 subjects with HS.
- Radiologists assessed sclerosis, endplate erosions, marrow signal, and disk degeneration (Pfirrmann scale).
- CT attenuation values were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The L4 vertebral body was most frequently affected (55%).
- MR imaging revealed variable signal intensity, typically low on T1 (73%) and high on fat-suppressed T2 (73%) sequences.
- All subjects exhibited moderate disk degeneration and adjacent endplate erosions; 18% had opposite endplate erosions.
Conclusions:
- MR imaging findings in HS can be variable and may not directly correlate with radiographic or CT sclerosis.
- Disk degeneration and asymmetric endplate erosions are reliable indicators for diagnosing HS.
