Author/Editor | Jevtič, Vladimir; Kos-Golja, Mojca; Rozman, Blaž; McCall, Iain | |
Title | Marginal erosive discovertebral "Romanus" lesions in ankylosing spondylitis demonstrated by contrast enhancemend Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance imaging | |
Type | članek | |
Source | Skeletal Radiol | |
Vol. and No. | Letnik 29 | |
Publication year | 2000 | |
Volume | str. 27-33 | |
Language | eng | |
Abstract | Objective. To assess the value of Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the demonstration of marginal destructive discovertebral Romanus lesions in ankylosing spondylitis. Design and patients. A prospective study of Gd-DTPA MR imaging was performed in 39 patients with a clinical diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis and typical Romanus lesions seen on radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine. MR morphological appearances and signal intensity changes at the discovertebral junctions were analysed and compared with the radiographic findings. Results. Ninetynine discovertebral junctions with Romanus lesions showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted and high signal on T2-weighted and TI-weighted postcontrast images at the vertebral corners consistent with oedematous hyperaemic inflammatory tissue. There were nine discovertebral junctions with similar MR findings but normal radiographs. Fifty-three discovertebral junctions showed syndesmophyte formation with increased signal intensity on both T1- and T2- weighted images with no contrast enhancement. Sixty-five discovenebral junctions showed a mixture of radiographic features and varied high and low signal changes at the venebral rim on MR imaging with rims of enhancement in the venebral body following contrast administration. Conclusion. Gd-DTPA MR imaging demonstrates a variable signal pattern and degree of contrast enhancement which may reflect the evolu- tionary stages of discovertebral enthesitis in ankylosing spondylitis. MR imaging may identify early erosive changes in radiographically normal venebra. The role of MR imaging needs funher investigation. | |
Descriptors | SPONDYLITIS, ANKYLOSING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING THORACIC VERTEBRAE LUMBAR VERTEBRAE CONTRAST MEDIA GADOLINIUM DTPA PROSPECTIVE STUDIES |