Differentiating imaging features of pyogenic and tuberculous spondylodiscitis / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Spinal infection was a common disease. It was very important to clarify the type of infection when deciding treatment. After following up of imaging data of spinal infection cases and reviewing the literature reports, some characteristic imaging manifestations were found and summarized, which were very helpful for the differential diagnosis of pyogenic and tuberculous spondylodiscitis. MR features of tuberculous spondylodiscitis were thoracic spine involvement, obvious bone destruction, larger kyphosis angle, vertebral intraosseous abscess, thin and smooth abscess walls, heterogeneous and focal enhancement of vertebral body, 3 vertebrals or more involvement. MR features of pyogenic spondylodiscitis were lumbar spine involvement, a diskitis pattern (disc destruction) with peridiscal bone destruction, homogeneous enhancement of vertebral body, and abnormal signal around the facet joint.