title: Vertebral fracture.
abstract: Vertebral fractures are usually the first to occur in osteoporosis, provide indisputable evidence of reduced bone strength, and are frequently a harbinger of further vertebral and nonvertebral fracture. Radiologists are best placed to draw attention to the presence of vertebral fractures, most of which are clinically silent. Magnetic resonance imaging supplemented if necessary by computed tomography is usually sufficient to enable distinction between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic vertebral fracture, without a need for percutaneous biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. griffith@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods