Multiple vertebral osteonecrosis

Joint Bone Spine. 2008 May;75(3):341-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2007.05.010. Epub 2007 Aug 31.

Abstract

Vertebral osteonecrosis classically presents with an intravertebral vacuum cleft phenomenon or a fluid-filled cleft on MR images. These clefts are usually found in older patients presenting with more severe fractures, more significant collapse and instability. Therefore, although considered for a long time as pathognomonic for vertebral osteonecrosis, vertebral clefts are now considered to represent fracture non-union. The double-line sign is classically described for osteonecrosis of long bones, but has been reported in one case of concurrent spinal cord and vertebral bone marrow radionecrosis. We present a case of a histologically confirmed multilevel vertebral osteonecrosis manifesting as a double-line sign in the absence of an associated vertebral collapse and unrelated to radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Osteonecrosis / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnosis*