Imaging features of Brucella spondylitis in non-pasture areas / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To understand the X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging features of Brucella spondylitis (BS) in non-pasture areas. Methods:The medical records of 21 patients with BS diagnosed and treated in the Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University from December 2013 to November 2020 were collected. There were 14 males and 7 females. The age was (52.4 ± 15.8) years old, ranging from 21 to 77 years old. They all came from non-pasture areas. The diagnostic criteria refered to the "Diagnosis for Brucellosis" (WS 269-2019). The results of imaging examinations (including X-ray, CT and MRI, 19, 16 and 21 cases respectively) were retrospectively analyzed.Results:In 21 patients with BS, the main lesion site was lumbar vertebrae (16 cases, 76.2%). In 19 cases of X-ray examination, 9 cases (47.4%) showed "Bird's Beak" hyperostosis, and 7 cases (36.8%) had vertebral bone destruction. Among the 16 cases of CT examination, 10 cases (62.5%) had hyperosteosclerosis and 8 cases (50.0%) had vertebral bone destruction, they had been showed the characteristic change of "Lace Like" sign. There were 7 cases (43.8%) of intervertebral disc lesions, 1 case (6.2%) of paravertebral abscess and 1 case (6.2%) of psoas major abscess. In 21 patients with MRI examination, 10 cases (47.6%) showed hyperostosis and 11 cases (52.4%) showed bone destruction; 13 cases (61.9%) had signal changes of intervertebral disc. There were 1 case (4.8%) of prevertebral abscess, 1 case (4.8%) of paravertebral abscess and 1 case (4.8%) of psoas major abscess. Sixteen patients underwent CT and MRI examinations at the same time, MRI was superior to CT in detecting intervertebral disc lesions (13 vs 7 cases, χ 2 = 4.800, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The X-ray, CT and MRI imaging features of BS patients in non-pasture areas are varied, and the lesion site mainly involves the lumbar vertebrae, and MRI is superior to CT in detecting intervertebral disc lesions.