CT and MR findings of Langerhans cell histiocytosis with multiple spinal involvement / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the CT and MRI features of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) with multiple spinal involvement.Methods The CT and MRI data of 13 patients with multiple LCH lesions in spine confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.All of 13 cases underwent CT examination (1 case underwent enhanced scanning) and 12 cases underwent MR examination (6 cases underwent enhanced scanning).Results In 13 cases,there were 8 cases of single central lesions invading the adjacent vertebrae and 5 cases of multiple central lesions.There were 19 core spinal lesions and 15 adjacent invading lesions in a total of 34 vertebrae lesions.Eighteen core lesions (18/19,94.74 ％) had different degrees and shape of vertebral compression.A total of 34 abnormal vertebrae were found in 13 cases by CT,which were manifested as osteolytic bone destruction.Eighteen cortical bones of 19 core vertebrae were incomplete,and a paravertebral soft-tissue masses were observed.There were 33 vertebrae lesions in 12 patients who underwent MR examination,including 18 core spinal lesions and 15 adjacent invading lesions.The lesions displayed equal,slightly lower or low signal on T1WI,slightly higher or high signal on T2WI and high signals on fat suppression sequences.A paravertebral soft-tissue masses were observed in 17 core spinal lesions (17/18,94.44％).Conclusion CT and MRI manifestations of spinal multiple LCH have certain characteristics.The level of diagnosis and differential diagnosis should be improved by deepen understanding of the disease image performance,but the diagnosis still depends on the pathology.