[Vertebral localizations of Paget disease]

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Orthopedics
• Pathology

Background:

• Paget's disease is a chronic bone disorder.
• Often asymptomatic, it can lead to complications like pain or spinal cord compression.
• Diagnosis relies heavily on imaging findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the diagnostic criteria for Paget's disease.
• To discuss the role of various imaging modalities in diagnosis and complication assessment.
• To highlight key differential diagnoses.

Main Methods:

• Review of radiological findings in Paget's disease.
• Analysis of diagnostic criteria including cortical thickening, loss of cortico-cancellous differentiation, and bone enlargement.
• Evaluation of plain X-rays, CT scans, and MRI for diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Key radiological signs include cortical thickening, altered differentiation, and bone enlargement.
• CT imaging reveals diverse patterns (mouth-eaten, vacuolar, etc.) useful for early or complex cases.
• MRI is reserved for challenging situations.

Conclusions:

• Radiological findings are paramount for diagnosing Paget's disease.
• CT offers detailed insights into lesion characteristics and complications.
• Differentiating Paget's disease from conditions like angioma or metastases is crucial.