title: Infectious and inflammatory processes of the spine.
abstract: Infectious and inflammatory processes of the spinal column are discussed, including disc space infection, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, arachnoiditis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The relative sensitivity and specificity of various imaging modalities, as well as the imaging characteristics and utility of these various modalities are given. Emphasis is placed on the use of magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Blaser
mesh_terms: D001100:Arachnoiditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004824:Epidural Space; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed