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"Tower vertebra": a new observation in sickle cell disease
T J Marlow1, C Y Brunson, S Jackson
1Department of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
Skeletal Radiology
|May 21, 1998
Summary
Sickle cell anemia can cause vertebral abnormalities. A study found that some patients with sickle cell anemia exhibit abnormal vertical growth of vertebrae adjacent to infarcted ones, a previously unreported finding.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
Background:
- Sickle cell anemia frequently causes skeletal abnormalities, particularly affecting the thoracic and lumbar spine.
- Vertebral body ischemia, infarction, and growth disturbances are common radiographic findings in sickle cell anemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and describe a novel radiographic finding in the vertebral bodies of adult patients with sickle cell anemia.
- To investigate the association between vertebral infarction and adjacent vertebral body growth.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs from 54 adult patients with sickle cell anemia.
- Identification of vertebral bodies with evidence of infarction and adjacent vertebral bodies showing abnormal vertical growth.
Main Results:
- Eight out of 54 patients (14%) presented with infarcted vertebrae.
- In these patients, at least one adjacent vertebral body showed compensatory vertical growth, appearing elongated.
- This specific pattern of vertebral abnormality has not been previously reported in sickle cell anemia.
Conclusions:
- Compensatory vertical growth of vertebral bodies adjacent to infarcted ones is a newly identified radiographic finding in sickle cell anemia.
- This finding may be mistaken for other conditions causing vertebral body elongation.
- Radiologists should consider sickle cell anemia when encountering this specific vertebral abnormality.