MR spectroscopy findings in tuberculous spondylitis; comparison with Modic type-I end-plate changes and metastatic vertebral disease.
OBJECTIVE
To define single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings of vertebral tuberculous spondylitis (TBS), Modic type-I end-plate changes (MTEC) and metastatic vertebral disease (MVD).


METHODS
Fifteen patients with TBS, 15 with MTEC and 15 with MVD were included. MRS from the diseased vertebral body as well as normal vertebral body was examined. Water and lipid peak were measured, water-to-lipid ratio (WLR) and for each patient lesion water index (LWI, the ratio of WLRs from diseased to normal vertebrae) were calculated.


RESULTS
The mean WLR of normal and pathologic vertebra was 0.91 and 7.13 in TBS group, 0.84 and 3.49 in MTEC group and 0.65 and 3.17 in MVD group, respectively. The mean LWI was 10.68 in TBS, 6.04 in MTEC and 6.42 MVD groups. Statistical significance was not achieved between the WLR and LWI of the TBS, MTEC nor MVD group (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The mean values of WLR and LWI in the TBS group are relatively higher than MTEC and MVD groups, with the difference being statistically insignificant.
Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, 41380 Umuttepe, Kocaeli, Turkey. yoncaanik@yahoo.com
Yonca
Y
Anik
Ercument
E
Ciftçi
Hasan Tahsin
HT
Sarisoy
Gür
G
Akansel
Ali
A
Demirci
Ihsan
I
Anik
Levent
L
Buluç
Ahmet
A
Ilgazli
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011522:Protons; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water