MR Imaging Assessment of the Spine: Infection or an Imitation?

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a powerful diagnostic tool that can be used to help evaluate spinal infection and to help distinguish between an infection and other clinical conditions. In most cases of spinal infection, MR images show typical findings such as vertebral endplate destruction, bone marrow and disk signal abnormalities, and paravertebral or epidural abscesses. However, it is not always easy to diagnose a spinal infection, particularly when some of the classic MR imaging features are absent or when there are unusual patterns of infectious spondylitis. Furthermore, noninfectious inflammatory diseases and degenerative disease may simulate spinal infection. It is necessary to be familiar with atypical MR imaging findings of spinal infection and features that may mimic spinal infection to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.Son JM, 2007, KOREAN J RADIOL, V8, P448Laredo JD, 2007, RADIOLOGY, V242, P825, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2423051222TINS BJ, 2007, TOP MAGN RESON IMAG, V18, P213Butler JS, 2006, SPINE, V31, P2695Wu HTH, 2006, SKELETAL RADIOL, V35, P212, DOI 10.1007/s00256-005-0068-yAn HS, 2006, CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R, P27, DOI 10.1097/01.blo.0000203452.36522.97Hermann KGA, 2005, RADIOGRAPHICS, V25, P559Tins BJ, 2004, SEMIN MUSCULOSKEL R, V8, P215Jung NY, 2004, AM J ROENTGENOL, V182, P1405Tali ET, 2004, EUR J RADIOL, V50, P120, DOI 10.1016/j.ejrad.2003.10.022Bennett DL, 2004, RADIOL CLIN N AM, V42, P121, DOI 10.1016/S0033-8389(03)00156-8Ledermann HP, 2003, RADIOLOGY, V228, P506, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2282020752EARLY SD, 2003, J AM ACAD ORTHOP SUR, V11, P413Moorthy S, 2002, AM J ROENTGENOL, V179RESNIK D, 2002, DIAGNOSIS BONE JOINT, P2481Ozaksoy D, 2001, EUR SPINE J, V10, P529, DOI 10.1007/s005860100285Moore SL, 2001, RADIOL CLIN N AM, V39, P329Varma R, 2001, RADIOL CLIN N AM, V39, P203Gouliamos AD, 2001, EUR RADIOL, V11, P575Jones EA, 2000, RADIOGRAPHICS, V20, pS279Wagner SC, 2000, RADIOLOGY, V214, P693Wagner AL, 2000, AM J NEURORADIOL, V21, P276Williams RL, 1999, AM J NEURORADIOL, V20, P381Nachtigal A, 1999, SKELETAL RADIOL, V28, P163Tyrrell PNM, 1999, EUR RADIOL, V9, P1066DAGIRMANJIAN A, 1999, MAGN RESON IMAGING C, V7, P525Boutin RD, 1998, AM J ROENTGENOL, V170, P585Maiuri F, 1997, SPINE, V22, P1741Stabler A, 1997, AM J ROENTGENOL, V168, P933Toussirot E, 1997, ANN RHEUM DIS, V56, P52Dagirmanjian A, 1996, AM J ROENTGENOL, V167, P1539Gillams AR, 1996, AM J ROENTGENOL, V166, P903LANG EW, 1996, EUR SPINE J, V5, P207VANTASSEL P, 1994, TOP MAGN RESON IMAG, V6, P69CORTET B, 1994, J RHEUMATOL, V21, P1287PARK YH, 1994, SPINE, V19, P1499TEKKOK IH, 1993, NEUROSURGERY, V33, P838SMITH AS, 1991, RADIOL CLIN N AM, V29, P809SHARIF HS, 1989, RADIOLOGY, V171, P419KANG HS, 1988, J KOREAN RADIOL SOC, V24, P421GOTUZZO E, 1987, ANN RHEUM DIS, V46, P506MODIC MT, 1985, RADIOLOGY, V157, P1571