[Infectious spondylitis. A retrospective evaluation of MRI markers].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the MRI criteria of infectious spondylitis (spondylodiscitis). The MR images of 23 patients suffering from spondylodisitis (78% unspecific, 22% specific) were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
The height of the intervertebral discs involved was normal in 40%, reduced in 43% and increased in 17% of the cases. The most common findings can be summarized in an MR triad: 1) The vertebral bodies involved are hypointense in T1-weighted images (100%) with a lack of delineation of the intervertebral discs (53%). 2) The injection of Gd-DTPA yields an enhancement of the vertebral bodies involved and intervertebral discs (95% and 74% respectively). 3) The vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs are hyperintense in T2-weighted sequences (76% and 90% respectively). When present, a paravertebral or intraspinal extension of the infection was isointense compared with the adjacent involved vertebral body in the majority of the patients. A differentiation between unspecific and specific etiology based on the MR images was not possible.


CONCLUSIONS
The vertebral bodies affected were usually hypointense in T1-W with enhancement after the administration of Gd-DTPA and hyperintense in T2-W. The discs involved were usually hyperintense in T2-W and demonstrated an inhomogeneous enhancement.
Wikström
M
M
Abteilung Röntgendiagnostik, Radiologische Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik der Universität Ulm.
Vogel
J
J
Rilinger
N
N
Diepers
M
M
Hartwig
E
E
Rieber
A
A
D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA