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. 2018 Aug;47(8):1145-1149.
doi: 10.1007/s00256-018-2900-1. Epub 2018 Feb 16.

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae: significance of local bone marrow edema at the transverse processes

Mika T Nevalainen  1   2 , Eoghan McCarthy  3   4 , William B Morrison  3 , Adam C Zoga  3 , Johannes B Roedl  3
Affiliations

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae: significance of local bone marrow edema at the transverse processes

Mika T Nevalainen et al. Skeletal Radiol. 2018 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between low back pain and bone marrow edema in lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) transverse processes, and to assess the prevalence of LSTV in a physically active population.

Materials and methods: Individuals with LSTV on coronal MRI studies were identified in a retrospective review by keyword search from PACS. In total, 140 cases were reviewed by two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. Data on associated low back pain were collected from patient records at the time of the imaging.

Results: Bone marrow edema was observed in 44% of the cases, but no correlation with low back pain was found. On coronal MRI, the prevalence of LSTV was 2.6%, with type II LSTV being the most common subtype.

Conclusions: No correlation with bone marrow edema at the transverse processes of the LSTV and low back pain was observed. In our selected study population, the prevalence of LSTV was low.

Keywords: Bone marrow edema; Low back pain; Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Magnetic resonance imaging.

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