Learning objectives
To review the anatomy and normal imaging appearance of the paediatric spine.
To assess the role of each imaging technique in the diagnosis and management.
To categorize the different causes as traumatic,
infective,
neoplastic and miscellaneous.
Background
The prevalence of back pain in children and adolescents ranges from 12 to 50 %.
Acquired vertebral collapse is an uncommon but relevant condition in the paediatric population,
which can be caused by a wide variety of underlying pathologies that can lead to deformities and morbidities.
The various causes of acquired vertebral collapse in paediatric age are different from adult population,
as these pathological conditions settle in a developing spine with a higher prevalence of primary lesions.
Therefore,
in general,
management is conservative with a...
Findings and procedure details
Acquired vertebral collapse in children can be caused by a wide range of causes which can be categorized as traumatic,
infective,
neoplastic and miscellaneous.
NORMAL IMAGING APPEARANCE
At birth,
the quantity of red (haematopoietic) marrow is higher.
During skeletal maturation,
hematopoietic marrow is converted into fatty marrow.
On MRI,
red marrow has T1 and T2 signal equal to or higher than muscle,
but less than fat.
Fatty marrow has a higher T1 signal and a lower T2 signal.
In neonates,
hematopoietic marrow usually has T1...
Conclusion
Acquired vertebral collapse in the paediatric age requires an accurate clinical-radiological correlation in order to get an early diagnosis.
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Paediatric acquired pathological vertebral collapse.
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The vertebral body: radiographic configurations in various congenital and acquired disorders.
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