Keywords:
Musculoskeletal spine, MR, CT, Diagnostic procedure, Infection, Abscess
Authors:
L. C. Zattar-Ramos, R. S. Damasceno, R. Leao, D. T. Amaral, M. B. Rodrigues, C. F. A. Cavalcanti, R. Y. Fernandes, C. Obara Kurimori, P. V. P. Helito, H. P. Costa; Sao Paulo/BR
DOI:
10.1594/essr2016/P-0113
Background
Spondylodiscitis is defined as the infectious involvement centered on the intervertebral disc and the adjacent vertebral bodies.
It corresponds to 2 - 7 % of all osteomyelitis,
and its has a mortality rate of 2 - 12% of cases (when pyogenic).
The pyogenic spondylodiscitis spinal column involvement is more common in lumbosacral column (48%),
than thoracic (35%) and cervical (6.5%) columns.
When not pyogenic the thoracic spine is often affected,
than lumbosacral and cervical columns.
The early diagnosis and treatment is the key for therapeutic success and to a favorable outcome,
once an residual functional deficit occurs in up to 15% of cases. Thus,
as the modality which first identifies signs of spondylodiscitis,
magnetic resonance (MR) plays a fundamental role.
Therefore,
it is of major importance that the radiologists are aware of the main slips committed in interpreting these exams.
The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate the findings that help to narrow the differential diagnosis and to better fallow the outcome of patients with spondylodiscitis.
With images from cases of ours institution data base,
we will illustrate the key findings to be interpreted in spondylodiscitis.