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Bony overgrowths and abnormal calcifications about the spine
1Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Medical Center, Orange.
Radiologic Clinics of North America
|November 1, 1988
Summary
Osteophyte formation, often linked to degenerative disc disease, involves bony growths on vertebrae. Syndesmophytes and other spinal excrescences have varied causes and imaging needs, impacting treatment planning.
Area of Science:
- Spinal Imaging and Degenerative Diseases
- Rheumatology and Inflammatory Arthropathies
Background:
- Osteophytes (bony excrescences) commonly form on vertebral margins, often indicating underlying disc degeneration.
- The precise classification and formation mechanisms of spinal bony excrescences are not fully understood but are frequently associated with degenerative disc changes.
- Spinal alignment abnormalities like scoliosis and functional spinal demands contribute significantly to these bony abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the various types of bony excrescences in the spine.
- To discuss the association of these excrescences with degenerative disk disease and inflammatory arthropathies.
- To highlight the diagnostic imaging modalities and clinical significance of specific spinal bony outgrowths like OPLL.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on spinal osteophytes, syndesmophytes, and other bony excrescences.
- Discussion of radiographic and CT imaging findings.
- Correlation of imaging findings with clinical conditions such as degenerative disc disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).
Main Results:
- Osteophytes are frequently associated with degenerative disc disease, with formation influenced by spinal alignment and functional stress.
- Syndesmophytes, characterized by vertical trabecular bone outgrowths, are linked to inflammatory conditions like ankylosing spondylitis.
- Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a progressive condition causing myelopathic symptoms, best evaluated with CT imaging.
Conclusions:
- Spinal bony excrescences encompass a range of entities with diverse etiologies, including degeneration and inflammation.
- Accurate classification and understanding of formation mechanisms are crucial for diagnosis and management.
- Advanced imaging, particularly CT, is essential for evaluating the extent and impact of conditions like OPLL on the spinal cord.