IMPORTANCE OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) FINDINGS IN TUBERCULOSIS OF THE SPINE

Objective: To determine the results of magnetic resonance imaging in tuberculosis of the spine. Study Design: A descriptive study. Place and Duration: In the Radiology department of Services Hospital Lahore for one-year duration from March 2019 to March 2020. Methods: The study included 109 cases of tuberculosis known to both sexes. Patients were selected with convenient probability sampling. Patients were diagnosed based on clinical examination, history and the following tests: sputum cytology, CBC and ESR. Chest radiography was also performed to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis. Histopathological biopsies were the gold standard in diagnosing inflammatory spinal injury. All MRI features observed in proven biopsy cases were carefully evaluated. Results: Patient ages ranged from 5 to 50 years old. The mean age of patients was 34.91 ± 7.33. Of 109 cases of tuberculosis of the spine, 62 (56.9%) were men and 47 (43.1%) were women. The most common clinical features of tuberculosis of the spine were low grade fever 84.4% and back pain 65.1%. MRI of the spine tuberculosis was found: reduction of intervertebral disc space 95 (87.2%), collapse of body wedge 35 (32.1%), total destruction of body 42 (39.5%), paravertebral abscess, calcification 34 (31, 2%) and cord compression 28 (25.7%) Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging is an excellent diagnostic method for tuberculosis of the spine and is more sensitive than ordinary radiography. It presents a diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis earlier than conventional methods and offers the advantages of previous diagnosis and treatment. Keywords: spinal tuberculosis, magnetic resonance imaging, gadolinium