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. 2013 Jul;26(3):300-1.
doi: 10.1080/08998280.2013.11928991.

Kummell disease

Larry T Nickell  1 , William G Schucany, Michael J Opatowsky
Affiliations

Kummell disease

Larry T Nickell et al. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Kummell disease, or avascular necrosis of a vertebral body, presents as vertebral osteonecrosis typically affecting a thoracic vertebra with compression deformity, intravertebral vacuum cleft, and exaggerated kyphosis weeks to months after a minor traumatic injury. This rare disease is increasing in prevalence secondary to an aging population and the associated rise in osteoporosis. Treatment with vertebroplasty or surgical decompression and fusion is often required. We present a classic case of Kummell disease to illustrate the salient features of the condition, with associated imaging findings on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
CT images of Kummel's disease. (a) Sagittal and (b) coronal images of the thoracic spine show marked anterior compression deformities of the T8 and T9 vertebral bodies (solid arrows) with intravertebral vacuum clefts (dashed arrows) compatible with osteonecrosis.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Sagittal MR images of a patient with Kummel's disease: (a) T2-weighted, (b) T1-weighted, and (c) STIR (short TI inversion recovery). Images show anterior compression deformities (solid arrows). The T2-weighted and STIR images show a classic “double line” sign of low-intensity vacuum cleft surrounded by elevated signal from edema (dashed arrow). The T1-weighted image shows the absence of signal within the vertebral body vacuum clefts (dashed arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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