Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
05:53
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
4.7K
Diagnostic Approach and Differences between Spinal Infections and Tumors
Domenico Compagnone1, Riccardo Cecchinato1, Andrea Pezzi1,2
1IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 9, 2023
Summary
Differentiating spine infections from bone tumors is challenging due to geographic variations. This review evaluates imaging techniques to aid in diagnosing spinal infections versus tumors, guiding biopsy decisions.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Differential diagnosis between spine infection and bone tumors is complicated by varying prevalence worldwide.
- Imaging findings can suggest diagnoses, aiding in biopsy site selection.
- Reliable imaging techniques are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the most reliable imaging technique for differentiating spine infections from bone tumors.
- To review imaging characteristics of various spinal pathologies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of Medline database.
- Identified and analyzed five main groups: tuberculous, atypical spinal tuberculosis, pyogenic spondylitis, and neoplastic (primitive and metastatic).
- Evaluated imaging features across CT, CT perfusion, MRI, MRI with Gadolinium, and MRI diffusion (DWI) for each group.
Main Results:
- A total of 22 full-text articles were assessed after initial screening of 602 studies.
- Data on the role of CT-scan, CT-perfusion, MRI, MRI with Gadolinium, and MRI diffusion (DWI) were collected.
- Key imaging features for distinguishing spine infection from bone tumor/metastasis were identified.
Conclusions:
- Definitive diagnosis requires biopsy and culture.
- Percutaneous biopsy demonstrates high sensitivity (72%) and specificity (94%).
- Imaging is supplementary; multidisciplinary discussion with radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists is mandatory.
