Spinal osteoblastoma: relationship between paravertebral muscle abnormalities and scoliosis.
OBJECTIVE
To illustrate the variety of paravertebral muscle abnormalities as seen on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in association with spinal osteoblastomas and correlate the findings with the presence of scoliosis.


METHODS
In a retrospective study the clinical notes, plain radiographic, CT and/or MRI features were reviewed for the presence of scoliosis and paravertebral muscle abnormality (either inflammation or atrophy).


METHODS
Twelve patients (7 male, 5 female) with a mean age of 17 years were studied. Three lesions occurred in the cervical spine, five in the thoracic spine and four in the lumbar spine.


CONCLUSIONS
Nine patients had scoliosis. All patients with a thoracic or lumbar lesion and scoliosis (n = 8) had an associated abnormality of the paravertebral muscles (usually atrophy with fatty replacement). One patient with a lumbar lesion and no scoliosis had normal paravertebral muscles. One patient with a cervical lesion had thoracic scoliosis but no muscle abnormality in the cervical region, while two patients with cervical lesions and no scoliosis showed muscle abnormalities. The results support the clinical hypothesis that scoliosis in patients with spinal osteoblastoma is due to paravertebral muscle spasm, although this would not appear to be the case for cervical lesions.
Saifuddin
A
A
Department of Radiology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Trust, London, UK.
Sherazi
Z
Z
Shaikh
M I
MI
Natali
C
C
Ransford
A O
AO
Pringle
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018215:Osteoblastoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed