title: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of vertebral column - an additional tool for evaluation of aggressiveness of vertebral haemangioma like lesion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most vertebral haemangioma are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally. Sometimes the symptomatic lesions present with radiological signs of aggressiveness and their appearance resemble other aggressive lesions (e.g. solitary plasmacytoma).
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a patient with large symptomatic aggressive haemangioma like lesion in 12(th) thoracic vertebra in which a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to analyse fat content within the lesion. The lesion in affected vertebrae showed low fat content with 33% of fat fraction (%FF). The fat content in non-affected (1(st) lumbar) vertebra was as expected for patient's age (68%). Based on MRS data, the lesion was characterized as an aggressive haemangioma. The diagnosis was confirmed with biopsy, performed during the treatment - percutaneous vertebroplasty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented case shows that MRS can be used as an additional tool for evaluation of aggressiveness of vertebral haemangioma like lesions.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeromel
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Janez
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Podobnik
keywords: aggressive vertebral haemangioma; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; percutaneous vertebroplasty