J Korean Radiol Soc.  1988 Jun;24(3):421-427. 10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.3.421.

MR imaging of spinal tuberculosis

• Kang HS
• Suk SI
• Chang KH
• Han MC

• KMID: 2359269
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.3.421

Abstract

To evaluate the diagnostic value of MR imaging incase of spinal tuberculosis, twenty patients with advancedspinal tuberculosis were examined by MR imaging 2.0T(Spectro-20000, Goldstar,Seoul). Eighteen of 20 patientsunderwent surgery and the diagnosis was confirmed bacteriologically or histologically. Various spinecho pulsesequences were used in coronal and sagittal planes. Inflammatory tissue showed relatively low singal intensity onT1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-wieghted imags. The bone destruction and disc-space involvementwere well visualized in both coronal and sagittal planes. The abscess cavity was distinguished from the adjacentstructures with good contrast resolution and the route of extension beneath the paraspinal ligament wasducumented. Involvement of the spinal canal was well visualized in the sagittal planes, in which inflammatorytissue was demarcated by a low signal intensity line representing dura and posterior longitudinal ligament.However, small calcifications, demonstrated on plain radiography or CT, could not be identified. We conclude thatMR imaging is an invaluable tool for establishing the bony changes as well as delineating the extent of the softtissue involvement in spinal tuberculosis.

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Diagnosis
Humans
Ligaments
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Radiography
Spinal Canal
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Spinal*