MRI for the detection of calcific features of vertebral haemangioma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of susceptibility-weighted-magnetic-resonance imaging (SW-MRI) for the detection of vertebral haemangiomas (VHs) compared to T1/T2-weighted MRI sequences, radiographs, and computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
The study was approved by the local ethics review board. An SW-MRI sequence was added to the clinical spine imaging protocol. The image-based diagnosis of 56 VHs in 46 patients was established using T1/T2 MRI in combination with radiography/CT as the reference standard. VHs were assessed based on T1/T2-weighted MRI images alone and in combination with SW-MRI, while radiographs/CT images were excluded from the analysis.


RESULTS
Fifty-one of 56 VHs could be identified on T1/T2 MRI images alone, if radiographs/CT images were excluded from analysis. In five cases (9.1%), additional radiographs/CT images were required for the imaging-based diagnosis. If T1/T2 and SW-MRI images were used in combination, all VHs could be diagnosed, without the need for radiography/CT. Size measurements revealed a close correlation between CT and SW-MRI (R2=0.94; p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that SW-MRI enables reliable detection of the typical calcified features of VHs. This is of importance for routine MRI of the spine, as the use of additional CT/radiography can be minimized.
Department of Radiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
Y Y
YY
Bender
Department of Radiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
S M
SM
Böker
Department of Radiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
G
G
Diederichs
Department of Radiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
T
T
Walter
Department of Radiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
M
M
Wagner
Department of Radiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
E
E
Fallenberg
Department of Neuroradiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
T
T
Liebig
Spine Department, Orthopedic University Hospital Friedrichsheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
M
M
Rickert
Department of Radiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
B
B
Hamm
Department of Radiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: marcus.makowski@charite.de.
M R
MR
Makowski
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed