[Centrosomatic spinal tuberculosis: radiographic features in 10 cases]

Abstract

We report a series of 10 cases of centrosomatic tuberculosis of the spine. The mean age of the patients was 36 years. Plain x-rays of the spine showed isolated defects in 3 cases, a defect with wedge fracture in 3 and a wedge fracture alone in 2. A sequestrum was found in 2 cases and bony condensation around the defect in 6. A CT scan performed in 3 cases showed, in addition to the bone lesions, a perilesional bony condensation in all cases. Soft tissue abscess formation was noted in 1 case and epidural involvement in the 2 others. MRI performed in 2 cases evidenced an alteration of the vertebral body signal with localized anterior epiduritis at the site of a small epidural abscess. CT scan and MRI contribute usefully to the radiographic diagnosis of centrosomatic tuberculosis, evidencing sequestra, bony condensation at the periphery of defects, and the presence of soft tissue abscesses and or epidural involvement. When these signs are absent, the differential diagnosis may be difficult with other causes of tumor formation, requiring vertebral biopsy.