Back pain in a 80 year-old female
Figure 1. Pre-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the dorsal spine
a) Axial T1, showing the oedematous signal of T6 vertebral body with low-signal intensity T1
b) Axial STIR and @9.6 Sagittal STIR, confirming the oedematous signal of T6 with high signal intensity STIR involving the vertebral body and the right pedicle, with extension into right paravertebral space. The expansile osseous lesion extends into right paravertebral space and anterior epidural space
@21.6 post-contrast magnetic resonance Imaging : Axial contrast-enhanced fat-saturated T1 weighted MR showing intense enhancement of the body of T6, anterior epidural space and right paravertebral space.
Aggressive vertebral angioma of T6
DEFINITION
Vertebral hemangiomas are common lesions which are usually considered to be bone lesion and benign. The prevalence increases with age, with a slight female predilection. They are commonly asymptomatic and limited to the vertebral body. Nevertheless a rare subset of them are characterized by extra-osseous extension, bone expansion and referred to as aggressive hemangiomas. They can cause spinal cord or nerve roots compression. They generally occupy the entire vertebral body, extend into the neural arch, expand the osseous margins, and contain a soft tissue component.
CHARACTERISTIC CLINICAL FEATURES AND RADIOLOGIC FINDINGS
Usually, vertebral angioma shows an increased signal on T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, relative to the fatty component, with classic vertebral trabecular pattern. Low signal intensity is seen in active lesions, which is the case here. The agressive hemangioma is suspected when the lesion is located in the dorsal spine (from D3 to D10), expands the osseous margins, extends into the root of arch, epidural and paravertebral space, with intense enhancement.
Radiographic and CT can easily diagnose the angioma, showing a polka-dot appearance, with reinforced trabeculae.
Differential diagnoses below can be considered:
CT aids in diagnosis solving, since the modality is more sensitive to the characteristic osseous remodeling, showing thickening of vertically striated trabeculae
DORSAL D4 A D12 MOU
RECON OS
D3 A D12 SAGITTAL MOU
D3 A D12 SAGITTAL MOU
D3 A D12 3D
D3 A D12 SAGITTAL OS
D3 A D12 CORONAL OS
D5-D6-D7 AXIAL OS
STIR SAG_COMP_SP_-120
T1 SAG_COMP_SP_-128
T2 TSE DIXON SAG_in
T2 TSE DIXON SAG_opp
T2 TSE DIXON SAG_F
T2 TSE DIXON SAG_W
T2 TSE DIXON SAG_in
T2 TSE DIXON SAG_opp
T2 TSE DIXON SAG_F
T2 TSE DIXON SAG_W
T2 BLADE TRA
T1 SAG FS GADO_COMP_SP_-139
T1 TSE TRA FS GADO
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