[Spondylitis: borderline findings in magnetic resonance tomography]

MR studies of 41 patients with confirmed spondylitis were evaluated with regard to imaging findings resembling metastases or fracture. 30 patients had MR results considered typical for spondylitis (contiguous changes in two vertebrae and disc, soft tissue tumour). 11 patients had MR studies differing from this pattern. Absence of soft tissue involvement and discontinuous marrow changes may be misdiagnosed as bone marrow metastases.