Malignant versus benign vertebral collapse: are new imaging techniques useful?
Benign and malignant vertebral collapse is common in the middle-aged and elderly population. Differential diagnosis sometimes remains difficult using radiographs, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if strong edema is present. Established morphological criteria and new methods such as positron emission tomography (PET)-CT and diffusion and perfusion MRI are helpful for the correct diagnosis. Increased fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake accounts for the neoplastic cause of a fracture. Hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted images and a high plasma flow also are associated with the malignant cause of a fracture. However, the combination of all criteria should be taken into account for differential diagnosis.
Baur-Melnyk
Andrea
A
Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals - Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. Andrea.Baur@med.uni-muenchen.de
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18