Vertebral body osteonecrosis without vertebral collapse.
METHODS
A case of idiopathic focal vertebral body osteonecrosis without vertebral collapse is reported.


OBJECTIVE
To report a rare case of focal vertebral osteonecrosis and to clarify the features of imaging studies.


BACKGROUND
There are no previous reports describing focal vertebral body necrosis without collapse in the literature.


METHODS
A case report and literature review are presented.


RESULTS
Imaging studies demonstrated: 1) sclerotic change on computed tomography scan; 2) low intensity on T1, high intensity on T2 with clear margin, and no gadolinium enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging; and 3) no uptake on bone scan. Histologic examination revealed empty lacunas, fatty necrosis with vacuolar degeneration, and cell debris compatible with bone marrow necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Vertebral body osteonecrosis must be considered a possible diagnosis of patients presenting with low intensity on T1, high intensity on T2 with clear margin, and no gadolinium enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging.
Murakami
Hideki
H
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan. hmuraka@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Kawahara
Norio
N
Gabata
Toshifumi
T
Nambu
Koshi
K
Tomita
Katsuro
K
D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D010026:Osteosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology*