title: Infection versus tumor in the spine: criteria for distinction with CT.
abstract: To develop criteria to distinguish among pyogenic infection, nonpyogenic infection, and neoplastic processes in the spine by means of computed tomography (CT), the authors retrospectively analyzed 17 cases of pyogenic infection (20 sites), 40 cases of neoplastic disease (56 sites), and five cases of granulomatous infection (eight sites). Reliable criteria for pyogenic infection were complete prevertebral soft-tissue involvement, diffuse osteolytic destruction, gas within both bone and soft tissue, and a process centering on an intervertebral disk. Neoplastic disease was characterized by posterior element involvement, partial or absent prevertebral soft-tissue swelling, and osteoblastic alterations. In a limited number of cases, nonpyogenic infection was characterized by focal lytic bone involvement and marginal sclerosis. Blinded testing of these criteria indicated potential for improved diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego Medical Center 92103.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Van Lom
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kellerhouse
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Pathria
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Moreland
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zlatkin
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sartoris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chevrot
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Resnik
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Resnick
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed