[Vertebral pain in advanced age: radiological diagnosis]

Abstract

Vertebral pain is common in elderly patients. This article reviews indications and results of imaging in these patients. The differential diagnosis of degenerative disease and the mass important emergency situations are discussed. Standard radiographs are crucial for adequate diagnosis due to high spatial resolution and the excellent overview they provide. Computed tomography is useful in bone abnormalities and is an important diagnostic tool in this population. Magnetic resonance imaging is preferable in abnormalities of the cervical spine and in suspected spondylodiscitis. Myelography, CT myelography and discography are rarely indicated, but may be ordered for operative planning. Bone scintigraphy is useful in detection of multilocular lesions and can be used for assessing the activity of pathologic processes.