Neuropathic spinal arthropathy: CT and MR findings

The CT and magnetic resonance findings of neuropathic spinal arthropathy in a patient with long-standing complete post-traumatic paraplegia are reported. The arthropathy involved primarily the disk space between the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebrae. The CT changes included vertebral body sclerosis with foci of bone destruction, replacement of the disk space by a soft tissue mass containing bone fragments extending beyond the confines of the vertebral body margins, degenerative changes of the posterior joints, a partially calcified progressively enlarging paraspinal soft tissue mass, and calcification within the spinal canal.