title: Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Differentiation of Osteoporotic Fractures From Neoplastic Metastatic Fractures.
abstract: Determining whether a low-intensity vertebral fracture in an older person, particularly one with a history of cancer, is due to osteoporosis (OP) or is the result of a metastasis, is a not infrequent clinical problem that has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. The 2 types of fracture are usually indistinguishable on plain radiographs and require higher order imaging for diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is the modality of choice because of its unique ability to depict the bone marrow, which becomes transiently edematous in an acute OP fracture. Preservation of at least part of the normal marrow signal, the visualization of a fracture line parallel to the end plates, the presence of an intravertebral cleft, lack of pedicle involvement, and no extra-osseous mass all favor a benign OP fracture. Absence of the preceding signs, particularly if there is complete replacement of the normal bone marrow and a convex posterior contour of the vertebral body, favors a fracture of malignant origin. Non-routine magnetic resonance sequences using diffusion-weighted imaging and/or chemical shift imaging may be helpful in difficult cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address: catorres@toh.on.ca.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Computed Tomography; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Metastatic; Osteoporotic; Vertebral fractures