A systematic approach to vertebral hemangioma

Diagnostic imaging confusion in infectious spondylitis

BACKGROUND

Infectious spondylitis is a rare but increasingly recognized condition involving infectious lesions of the spine. It can affect patients of all ages and is typically caused by bacterial, fungal, or other pathogens. The infection commonly targets the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs. Early symptoms of infectious spondylitis are often nonspecific, making it challenging to differentiate from other spinal disorders such as tumors, degenerative diseases, or other types of infections. As the condition can progress rapidly, early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to improving patient outcomes.

MAIN BODY

Imaging plays a critical role in the early diagnosis of infectious spondylitis. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the gold standard due to its superior ability to visualize soft tissue structures and assess the extent of infection. CT imaging and nuclear medicine scans also provide valuable information in certain clinical scenarios, particularly for evaluating bony involvement and detecting occult infection. However, imaging findings in infectious spondylitis can overlap with those of other spinal conditions, making differential diagnosis essential for accurate identification. This study explores the advantages and limitations of different imaging modalities in diagnosing infectious spondylitis, focusing on their ability to suggest the possible etiology, determine the severity of the disease, and guide treatment decisions. Additionally, the relationship between imaging characteristics and clinical symptoms is examined to offer clinicians a systematic approach to improve diagnostic accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Early and accurate diagnosis of infectious spondylitis is critical for preventing long-term complications. Imaging techniques, especially MRI, are invaluable tools for clinicians in identifying this condition, assessing its extent, and guiding treatment. Improved understanding of the imaging features associated with infectious spondylitis is essential for more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Sacral Hemangioma Mimicking Bone Metastasis on 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT

A 74-year-old man with prostate cancer was referred for an 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT scan for restaging due to a progressive rise in serum prostate-specific antigen levels. 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT showed a focal intense activity in the left sacral ala. The sacral lesion corresponded to a hemangioma, which was initially detected on pelvic MRI 6 months ago and remained stable in size. A second 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT performed 8 months after the first PET/CT showed no significant changes in size, density, and activity of the sacral lesion. This case indicates that hemangioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of PSMA-avid sacral lesions.

PSMA-expressing, fluciclovine-negative vertebral hemangioma

BACKGROUND

False-positive findings in Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PSMA PET-CT) can complicate accurate staging of prostate cancer, especially in cases such as vertebral hemangiomas, a benign lesion of the spinal column. These ambiguities may result in unnecessary biopsies in patients with prostate cancer when PSMA PET findings are inconclusive.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a 68-year-old male with prostate cancer who had a PSMA-expressing, fluciclovine-negative vertebral hemangioma.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the role of fluciclovine PET-CT in distinguishing benign vertebral hemangiomas from prostate cancer metastases, improving diagnostic accuracy specifically in positive cases of PSMA PET-CT.

The Spinal Bone Marrow in Health and Disease

Radiologists play a key role in identifying, characterizing, sampling, and, in some cases, treating abnormalities of the spinal bone marrow. This article discusses the composition and dynamic nature of the bone marrow, and how these changes directly correlate with the imaging appearance. Examples of entities that are diffuse, infiltrative, solitary, and multifocal are shown and diagnostic dilemmas and mimics are described The radiologist must be aware of the expected appearance and variability of the bone marrow in order to provide timely, accurate diagnoses.

Coexistence of mastoid, frontal and vertebral hemangiomas in a patient with diabetic neuropathy: Possible correlation between diabetic angiopathy and intraosseous neoangiogenesis

Bony hemangiomas are benign vascular lesions with an expansive growth; usually they tend to obliterate the entire bony cavity. They are typical lesion of the spinal bones, but they can rarely arise within other bones of the neurocranium. Diabetic microangiopathy is a condition characterized by the development of aberrant vessel tangles anastomosed to each other due to dysregulated neoangiogenesis. We report the case of a 56-year-old woman, suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus, admitted to the neurology department due to a reported worsening of paresthesias and dysesthesias of the upper and lower limbs. She performed a contrast-enhanced brain CT scan that showed the presence, at the level of the right mastoid process, of an hypervascular angioma. A subsequent MRI study of the brain and spine showed the presence of multiple bone angiomas, at the level of the right frontal theca and C7, Th3, and Th7 vertebral bodies. Due to the absence of further symptoms and clinical and radiological signs of intracranial compression, the patient did not perform surgery. A radiological follow-up was advised. Although possible pathophysiological correlations between diabetes and vertebral hemangiomas are mentioned in literature, vascular lesions of this type involving vertebrae and skull base simultaneously can be discovered in a patient with chronic diabetic disease. As long as these lesions remain asymptomatic, surgical treatment is not indicated, and the patient is followed over time with radiological follow-up.

Bone Metastasis from Renal Cancer Coinciding with the Same Anatomical Position as a Vertebral Hemangioma: A Collision Lesion Case Report

Collisions lesions are rare neoplasms where two histologically distinct tumors coexist in the same organ or anatomical site. Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are the most common lesions involving the vertebral bodies and imaging findings of typical and atypical hemangiomas, variant forms of hemangioma such as aggressive hemangiomas are well known, but collision lesions involving VHs are extremely rare. This article presents a case report of a 73-year-old male patient diagnosed with clear cell renal cancer in a rare presentation of a bone metastasis coinciding with the same anatomical position as a VH (collision lesion). This required a multidisciplinary approach involving various diagnostic techniques to determine the best therapeutic management.

Vertebral hemangiomas: a review on diagnosis and management

BACKGROUND

Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are the most common benign tumors of the spinal column and are often encountered incidentally during routine spinal imaging.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the inpatient and outpatient hospital records at our institution was performed for the diagnosis of VHs from January 2005 to September 2023. Search filters included "vertebral hemangioma," "back pain," "weakness," "radiculopathy," and "focal neurological deficits." Radiographic evaluation of these patients included plain X-rays, CT, and MRI. Following confirmation of a diagnosis of VH, these images were used to generate the figures used in this manuscript. Moreover, an extensive literature search was conducted using PubMed for the literature review portion of the manuscript.

RESULT

VHs are benign vascular proliferations that cause remodeling of bony trabeculae in the vertebral body of the spinal column. Horizontal trabeculae deteriorate leading to thickening of vertical trabeculae which causes a striated appearance on sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), "Corduroy sign," and a punctuated appearance on axial imaging, "Polka dot sign." These findings are seen in "typical vertebral hemangiomas" due to a low vascular-to-fat ratio of the lesion. Contrarily, atypical vertebral hemangiomas may or may not demonstrate the "Corduroy" or "Polka-dot" signs due to lower amounts of fat and a higher vascular component. Atypical vertebral hemangiomas often mimic other neoplastic pathologies, making diagnosis challenging. Although most VHs are asymptomatic, aggressive vertebral hemangiomas can present with neurologic sequelae such as myelopathy and radiculopathy due to nerve root and/or spinal cord compression. Asymptomatic vertebral hemangiomas do not require therapy, and there are many treatment options for vertebral hemangiomas causing pain, radiculopathy, and/or myelopathy. Surgery (corpectomy, laminectomy), percutaneous techniques (vertebroplasty, sclerotherapy, embolization), and radiotherapy can be used in combination or isolation as appropriate. Specific treatment options depend on the lesion's size/location and the extent of neural element compression. There is no consensus on the optimal treatment plan for symptomatic vertebral hemangioma patients, although management algorithms have been proposed.

CONCLUSION

While typical vertebral hemangioma diagnosis is relatively straightforward, the differential diagnosis is broad for atypical and aggressive lesions. There is an ongoing debate as to the best approach for managing symptomatic cases, however, surgical resection is often considered first line treatment for patients with neurologic deficit.

Aggressive vertebral hemangiomas contain no adipose tissue resulting in thoracic spine kyphosis: A case report

RATIONALE

Aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (AVHs) destroy continuous vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs and resulting in spinal kyphosis is extremely rare. The very aggressive behavior was attributable to its significant vascular component and contained no adipose tissue.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We report a case of thoracic spine kyphosis of AVHs with multiple vertebral bodies and intervertebral disc destruction in a 45-year-old woman.

DIAGNOSES

Based on the imaging studies, the patient underwent surgical removal of this lesion and spinal reconstruction. Histopathology consistent with vertebral hemangioma and contained no adipose.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent surgical removal of the lesion and spinal reconstruction. After subperiosteal dissection of the paraspinal muscles and exposure of the laminae, the laminae of the T5-7 vertebrae were removed and exposing the lesion. The lesion was soft and showed cystic changes, completely curetted and autogenous bone was implanted. Vertebroplasty was performed through T3-T9 pedicles bilaterally. Pedicle screw fixation was performed for segmental fixation and fusion.

OUTCOMES

After 9 days of operation, the incision healed cleanly and free of pain. She was discharged in good general condition. The patient remained asymptomatic after follow-up 6 months of postoperative.

LESSONS

AVHs destroy multiple vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs and resulting in spinal kyphosis is extremely rare.

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty as the Treatment of Choice for Multiple Adjacent Lumbar Atypical Haemangiomas: A Case Report

Atypical vertebral haemangiomas (VHs) are uncommon lesions that cause lumbar pain and motor symptoms. Current management mainly relies on radiotherapy, surgical spine decompression, or percutaneous techniques. We describe a unique case of a patient with two adjacent lumbar VHs and an underlying lumbar fracture which was treated only by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV). The non-invasive technique relieved the patient's pain and did not affect column stability. PV may be considered an amenable pain-relieving treatment for adjacent atypical VHs in selected patients.

Subcutaneous fibroblastoma resembling hemangioma: A case of benign tumor of the chest wall

Key Clinical Message

Desmoplastic fibroma presents similar to other soft tissue tumors to such an extent that even a gold standard investigation can miss.

Abstract

This is to report a mass in a 47-year-old male arising from the chest wall, which was first thought to be a hemangioma but was later diagnosed as a case of desmoplastic fibroblastoma with the help of a biopsy.

Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MR Perfusion and Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Marrow-Replacing Disorders of the Spine: A Comprehensive Review

Significant advancements in cancer treatment have led to improved survival rates for patients, particularly in the context of spinal metastases. However, early detection and monitoring of treatment response remain crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. Although conventional imaging methods such as bone scan, PET, MR imaging, and computed tomography are commonly used for diagnosing and monitoring treatment, they present challenges in differential diagnoses and treatment response monitoring. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, applications, and practical uses of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging in the assessment and monitoring of marrow-replacing disorders of the spine.

Electrochemotherapy in Aggressive Hemangioma of the Spine: A Case Series and Narrative Literature Review

(1) Background: this case series and literature review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electrochemotherapy in the management of aggressive spinal hemangiomas, presenting two distinct cases. (2) Methods: we present two cases of spinal aggressive hemangioma which were refractory to conventional treatments and underwent electrochemotherapy. Case 1 involves a 50-year-old female who presented with an aggressive spinal hemangioma of L1, who previously underwent various treatments including surgery, radio-chemotherapy, and arterial embolization. Case 2 describes a 16-year-old female with a T12 vertebral hemangioma, previously treated with surgery and stabilization, who faced limitations in treatment options due to her young age and the location of the hemangioma. (3) Results: in Case 1, electrochemotherapy with bleomycin was administered following the failure of previous treatments and resulted in the reduction of the lesion size and improvement in clinical symptoms. In Case 2, electrochemotherapy was chosen due to the risks associated with other treatments and was completed without any adverse events. Both cases demonstrated the potential of electrochemotherapy as a viable treatment option for spinal hemangiomas, especially in complex or recurrent cases. (4) Conclusions: electrochemotherapy with bleomycin is a promising treatment for aggressive spinal hemangiomas when conventional therapies are not feasible or have failed. Further research is needed to establish definitive protocols and long-term outcomes of electrochemotherapy in spinal hemangioma management.

Imaging of Multiple Myeloma: Present and Future

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common adult hematologic malignancy, and early intervention increases survival in asymptomatic high-risk patients. Imaging is crucial for the diagnosis and follow-up of MM, as the detection of bone and bone marrow lesions often dictates the decision to start treatment. Low-dose whole-body computed tomography (CT) is the modality of choice for the initial assessment, and dual-energy CT is a developing technique with the potential for detecting non-lytic marrow infiltration and evaluating the response to treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more sensitive and specific than 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for the detection of small focal lesions and diffuse marrow infiltration. However, FDG-PET/CT is recommended as the modality of choice for follow-up. Recently, diffusion-weighted MRI has become a new technique for the quantitative assessment of disease burden and therapy response. Although not widespread, we address current proposals for structured reporting to promote standardization and diminish variations. This review provides an up-to-date overview of MM imaging, indications, advantages, limitations, and recommended reporting of each technique. We also cover the main differential diagnosis and pitfalls and discuss the ongoing controversies and future directions, such as PET-MRI and artificial intelligence.

Spinal lymphangiomas: Case-based review of a chameleonic disease entity

Purpose

Lymphangiomas are benign hamartomas in the spectrum of lymphatic malformations, exhibiting multifaceted clinical features. Spinal involvement is exceedingly rare, with only 35 cases reported to date. Both due to their rarity and chameleonic radiologic features, spinal lymphangiomas (SLs) are usually misdiagnosed; postoperatively, surgeons are thus confronted with an unexpected histopathological diagnosis with sparse pertinent literature and no treatment guidelines available.

Methods

Here, we report the case of a 67-year-old female who underwent surgery for a T6-T7 epidural SL with transforaminal extension, manifesting with spastic paraparesis. Then, we present the results of the first systematic review of the literature on this subject, delineating the clinical and imaging features and the therapeutic implications of this rare disease entity.

Results

Our patient was treated with T6-T7 hemilaminectomy and resection of the epidural mass, with complete recovery of her neurological picture. No recurrence was evident at 18 months. In the literature, 35 cases of SL were reported that can be classified as vertebral SL (n = 18), epidural SL (n = 10), intradural SL (n = 3), or intrathoracic lymphangiomas with secondary spinal involvement (n = 4). Specific treatment strategies (both surgical and nonsurgical) were adopted in relation to each of these categories.

Conclusion

Gathering knowledge about SL is fundamental to promote both correct preoperative identification and appropriate perioperative management of this rare disease entity. By reviewing the literature and discussing an exemplary case, we delineate a framework that can guide surgeons facing such an unfamiliar diagnosis.

Vertebral Angiomatosis in a Dog

A 3 yr old spayed female Cavalier King Charles spaniel was referred for insidious ataxia and paraparesis. A thoracolumbar lesion was suspected. Computed tomography showed focal osteolysis of the vertebral body and pedicles of T5. In addition, a hyperdense, extradural material within the vertebral canal, causing spinal cord compression on the right side, was present. The lesion was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging. A T4-T5 hemi-dorsal laminectomy was performed to decompress the spinal cord. Histopathological examination was consistent with vertebral angiomatosis. After the surgery, the dog rapidly improved; however, 5 mo later the clinical signs relapsed. Vertebral angiomatosis is a vasoproliferative disorder, rarely reported as a cause of myelopathy in cats. This condition has not previously been reported in dogs. This case report describes the clinical features, the diagnostic findings, and the follow-up of a young dog with vertebral angiomatosis.

Surgical strategies in the management of aggressive spinal haemangiomas: Retrospective case series with literature review and a practical treatment algorithm

Purpose

We studied the clinico-radiological features and treatment outcomes of patients with aggressive spinal haemangiomas.

Methods

We undertook a retrospective review of 24 patients with aggressive spinal haemangiomas managed at our centre from 2004 to 2016. The cohort was divided into two groups. Group1 included patients managed from 2004 to 2009 while Group 2 was those treated between 2010 and 2016. Clinicoradiological features and treatment outcomes were studied.

Results

Back pain (24/24) and myelopathy (18/24) were the most common presenting complaints. Over 80% (20/24) of patients, had involvement of the thoracic spine and more than 50% (13/24) had severe spasticity, being Nurick grade 4&5 at presentation. The various treatment modalities used were laminectomy with or without instrumented posterior fusion (10/24), corpectomy with instrumented fusion (10/24) and alcohol injection alone (4/24). Patients who were treated with surgery had significant clinical improvement at follow-up in both groups. Patients who underwent alcohol injection did not have any improvement in symptoms at follow-up. There was a change in our strategy in the later part of the series from a two staged anterior and posterior approach to a single staged posterior-only approach to address vertebral body disease with preoperative angioembolization.

Conclusion

Haemangiomas are benign lesions with locally aggressive behavior in some cases. Results of conservative approaches such as alcohol injection in management of these lesions are discouraging. Aggressive surgical decompression combined with preoperative adjuncts such as angioembolization with or without stabilization reduces intra operative blood loss and results in good neurological recovery even in patients with severe myelopathy.

Surgical Options for Aggressive Vertebral Hemangiomas：A case series, literature review and treatment recommendations

Purpose

We retrospectively study twenty-nine surgical cases of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (AVHs) with neurological deficits and extradural compression to determine the optimal surgical treatment strategy for AVHs at a single institution.

Methods

Patients with AVHs with neurological deficits who underwent partial tumor resection plus decompression with or without vertebroplasty (VP), and radiotherapy between 2010 and 2021 were included in this study. Clinical characteristics, surgical outcomes, and follow-up data of the patients were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Twenty-nine AVH cases with neurological deficits and spinal instability were included in this study and treated surgically. The mean operation time of patients with decompression surgery plus VP (Groupe A) was 215.9 (120-265 min), shorter than that of decompression surgery without VP (Group B) 240.2 (120-320 min). Intraoperative blood loss was 273.3 (100-550 mL) in group A and 635.3 (200-1600 mL) in group B. In addition, a significant reduction in blood loss was observed in group A compared to the group B (p=0.0001). All patients experienced immediate pain relief and improvement in their neurological symptoms. Neurological function was assessed by the Frankel score, ASIA score, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score decreased from 7.4 (4-9) to 1.3 (0-3). Of twenty-nine patients in this study,  only 7% (2/29 patients) showed signs of recurrence.

Conclusion

Decompression plus VP achieve good tumor control and decrease surgical complication. Preoperative vascular embolization and VP can reduce intraoperative bleeding in the treatment of AVH surgery. Moreover, postoperative radiotherapy seems to be a good technique to prevent tumor recurrence.

Increased 18 F-FAPI-04 Uptake in Vertebral Hemangioma

ABSTRACT

A 54-year-old man with a history of colectomy for colorectal cancer and subsequent liver metastasectomy underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT and 18 F-FAPI-04 PET/CT scans to evaluate possible hepatic metastasis revealed by contrast-enhanced MRI. Both studies showed similarly increased uptake in liver metastases, and 18 F-FDG detected a metastatic lung nodule. Furthermore, the images showed an incidental finding of increased uptake of 18 F-FAPI-04 in the L3 vertebral, which was not 18 F-FDG-avid. A review of the patient's previous CT and MRI scans suggests vertebral hemangioma.

Protocol for Electrical Conductivity Signal Collection and Processing in Scoliosis Surgery

Introduction

Pedicle screw placement is a common procedure in spinal surgery. The misplacement rate with lateral and medial cortical perforation is 5-11%. Several techniques are used to decrease this rate. Many studies proved that electrical conductivity increases accuracy during pedicle screw placement but no study has interpreted conductivity values.

Methods

The data are collected from patients operated for scoliosis in a single university hospital. After the posterior surgical approach is made, each pedicle is prepared classically. Instead of the classic curved pedicle probe, the surgeon uses a probe with the same shape that measures the conductivity at its tip. Conductivity values are recorded through a Bluetooth application. Each pedicle trajectory is then qualified after manual palpation with a feeler. A trajectory is qualified as optimal when palpation shows a bone tunnel without any breach, breached when there was a breach, and a modification of the probe direction was needed. A trajectory that does not meet the abovementioned definitions is excluded from the statistical analysis.

Results

21 patients with 457 pedicles are recorded. The average age of the population is 14.71 ± 1.86 years. 17 patients (81%) have idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. One patient has Rett syndrome, one has hypotonia, one has cerebral palsy, and one has congenital malformation. The depth of the instrument is measured semiautomatically. This technique is validated when compared with the manual technique using the Bland-Altman agreement method (mean differences = -0.279 mm, upper limit = 2.2 mm, and lower limit = -2.7 mm) and Deming regression (slope = 1.06 ± 0.004).

Conclusion

This study establishes a protocol to collect electrical conductivity signals in spine surgery with synchronization to the depth of the instrument. Real-time conductivity signal feedback alerts the surgeon of a probable breach in the spinal canal, so he can change the direction of the pedicle aim.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Perfusion: Role in Diagnosis and Treatment Follow-Up in Patients with Vertebral Body Tumors

Recent therapeutic advances have led to increased survival times for patients with metastatic disease. Key to survival is early diagnosis and subsequent treatment as well as early detection of treatment failure allowing for therapy modifications. Conventional MR imaging techniques of the spine can be at times suboptimal for identifying viable tumor, as structural changes and imaging characteristics may not differ pretreatment and posttreatment. Advanced imaging techniques such as DCE-MRI can allow earlier and more accurate noninvasive assessment of viable disease by characterizing physiologic changes and tumor microvasculature.

Ethanol Sclerosis Therapy for Aggressive Vertebral Hemangioma of the Spine: A Narrative Review

Vertebral hemangiomas of the spine are rare benign tumors. They occur primarily in the thoracic region and are often asymptomatic and found incidentally on radiological examination; however, some are symptomatic, aggressive, and gradually increase in size. Various therapeutic approaches have been proposed for their management. This study aimed to review the therapeutic management, focusing on ethanol sclerosis therapy. The PubMed database was searched from inception to January 2023 using the keywords "hemangioma", "spine OR vertebra", and "ethanol". Twenty studies were retrieved, including two letters. The first report of spinal therapy was published in 1994. Ethanol sclerosis therapy is effective in treating vertebral hemangiomas. It is performed independently or in combination with other techniques, such as vertebroplasty using cement and surgery. The therapy is performed under local or general anesthesia with fluoroscopic or computed tomography guidance. A total of 10-15 mL of ethanol is slowly injected via unilateral or bilateral pedicles. Complications of the therapy include hypotension and arrhythmia during the procedure, paralysis immediately after the procedure, and delayed compression fractures. This review could enable the refinement of knowledge regarding ethanol sclerosis therapy, which is a treatment option that could be adopted.

Intense PSMA Uptake in a Vertebral Hemangioma Mimicking a Solitary Bone Metastasis in the Primary Staging of Prostate Cancer via 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT

A 78-year-old man with newly diagnosed high-risk prostate cancer underwent ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT for primary staging. This showed a single, very intense PSMA uptake in the vertebral body of Th2, without discrete morphological changes on low-dose CT. Thus, the patient was considered oligometastatic and underwent MRI of the spine for stereotactic radiotherapy planning. MRI demonstrated an atypical hemangioma in Th2. A bone algorithm CT scan confirmed the MRI findings. The treatment was changed, and the patient underwent a prostatectomy with no concomitant therapy. At three and six months after the prostatectomy, the patient had an unmeasurable PSA level, confirming the benign etiology of the lesion.

A less aggressive approach to the treatment of aggressive vertebral hemangioma of the thoracic spine: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Different treatments are available for aggressive vertebral hemangioma [AVH], but a consensus is yet to be reached about the best therapeutic approach.

PURPOSE

To explore the possibility that selecting a less aggressive therapeutic approach for AVH decreases the intraoperative and postoperative complications while providing similar clinical, radiographic, and disease-free survival results to more aggressive therapeutic methods.

STUDY

We report the case of an AVH of the thoracic spine at the T5 level, treated via perioperative selective arterial embolization plus surgical decompression via laminectomy and reconstruction with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) vertebroplasty.

PATIENT

The patient was a 17-year-old male referred to our center with the chief complaint of low back pain from two months earlier, without any response to analgesics, and with neurologic manifestations as paraparesis (one month) and progressive sphincter problems (one week). Upon imaging, the impression was an aggressive spinal tumor with cord compression.

OUTCOME MEASURES

After the operation, the patient's pain immediately improved, and his neurologic manifestations progressively improved.

RESULTS

The patient started walking with help about three weeks after the operation. Roughly six months later, he achieved a complete neurological recovery. At present, about two years following the operation, he has a normal life without any neurological problems.

CONCLUSION

Based on our experience with AVH, the selection of less aggressive therapeutic approaches such as perioperative diagnostic angiography and selective embolization decrease the intraoperative and postoperative complications like intraoperative bleeding and neurological injury, while achieving similar clinical, radiographic, and disease-free survival outcomes to more aggressive therapeutic methods.

Atypical Vertebral Hemangioma in a Patient With Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Nodule

Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are common, benign angiomatous lesions of the spine with an incidence rate of 10% to 12% in the population. VHs have a characteristic appearance on imaging; however, a subset demonstrate atypical features that resemble more sinister pathologic processes, such as malignant neoplasms or metastatic disease. We report a case of an atypical VH that was initially thought to be a metastasis in a 75-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed pulmonary nodule. Our goal is to highlight the key findings of VHs on various imaging modalities that can potentially help minimize unnecessary investigations or interventions.

Successful long-term outcome with radiation and prednisolone following a postoperative feline vertebral angiomatosis relapse

Case summary

A 1-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat was presented to the Ontario Veterinary College for a week-long history of lethargy and reluctance to walk. CT and MRI revealed a monostotic T5 compressive vertebral lesion that was excised in surgery via pediculectomy. Histology and advanced imaging were consistent with feline vertebral angiomatosis. The cat relapsed both clinically and on CT 2 months postoperatively and was therefore treated with an intensity-modulated radiation therapy protocol (45 Gy over 18 fractions) and tapering doses of prednisolone. On follow-up CT and MRI at 3 and 6 months post-radiation, the lesion was static and then improved at 19 months post-radiation, with no signs of pain reported.

Relevance and novel information

To our knowledge, this is the first described case of a postoperative relapse of feline vertebral angiomatosis treated with radiation therapy and prednisolone with a successful long-term follow-up.

Vertebral Hemangiomas: Prevalence, new classification and natural history. magnetic resonance imaging-based retrospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence of vertebral hemangiomas (VHs), establish a new classification of VHs based on their MRI-signal pattern, and study their natural history.

METHODS

MRI of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent at least two MRI with an interval of at least 3 years. Growth rate and change of MRI-signal pattern during the follow-up period were the parameters included in studying the natural history of VHs.

RESULTS

The prevalence of VHs was 41%. VHs were classified as type I-IV with fat-rich VHs (type I), constituted 79% of all VHs. VHs were more common among females 43% versus males 39%, p = .22. The most affected vertebra was L1. Occurrence rates for cervical (1%), thoracic (7%), and lumbar spine (10%) differed significantly (p < .001). The prevalence of VHs increased with age regardless of gender or spinal part involved (p < .001). Only 26% of VHs changed their size and 4% changed their signal during the average follow-up of 7 years. All VHs were slowly growing lesions (average expected growth of <3 mm/10 years). No significant difference between growth rate of VHs type I (0.25 mm/year) and other types of VHs. None of the VHs that were initially reported as "metastases cannot be rule out" showed alarming change in signal or size.

CONCLUSIONS

VH can be classified into four types based on their MRI-signal pattern. Regardless of their type, VHs are slowly growing lesions. The presence of typical morphological pattern should enable radiologists to confidently differentiate them from vertebral metastases.

Large Intraosseous Haemangioma of the Sacral Vertebra: The radiological imaging findings

NONE

Vertebral hemangioma - the current radiation therapy perspective

Vertebral hemangiomas are benign tumors of the spine, most often detected incidentally and on other instances, when signs and symptoms of the disease arise. About 10% of the population are affected worldwide with a female to male ratio of 2:1. The majority of these cases are asymptomatic and no intervention is generally required. Less often, back pain and neurological deficit may occur. Such hemangiomas are termed aggressive by the Enneking staging and warrant treatment. In this review, staging and diagnostics are discussed in detail followed by treatment options. Treatment options entail Surgical intervention, Percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation and Radiation Therapy. There are no set guidelines on preference or order of the treatment options. Further, in this review, studies favouring Radiation therapy regimes and their outcomes are elaborated.

Management of Aggressive Vertebral Haemangioma and Assessment of Differentiating Pointers Between Aggressive Vertebral Haemangioma and Metastases - A Systematic Review

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

OBJECTIVES

Vertebral haemangioma has been classified into typical and aggressive vertebral haemangioma (AVH). Management options for AVH are many and the clinician has decision dilemma in choosing the right one. Metastases mimic AVH in clinical and radiological presentation. Differentiating pointers between them has not been clearly delineated in literature. Aim of our review is to identify treatment options; to formulate a management algorithm for AVH based on clinical presentation and to identify radiological differentiating pointers between them.

METHODS

Systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. We systematically reviewed all available literature from the year 2001 to 2020. Relevant articles were identified as per laid down criteria from the medical databases. After inclusion, first and second authors went through full text of each included article.

RESULTS

Of 139 studies reviewed, eight met our criteria for review of management and three separate studies for radiological differentiating pointers. 99 patients with 88 AVH had undergone treatment. Back pain with myelopathy is the presenting symptom in majority of patients. Patients with backpain - myelopathic symptoms had improved following surgery; patients with back pain alone had improved with either percutaneous vertebroplasty or CT guided alcohol ablation. Dynamic contrast MRI, Diffusion weighted MRI and ratio of signal intensity between T1w and fat suppression T1w MR help the clinician in differentiating them.

CONCLUSION

Management of AVH can be based on the patient's clinical presentation. Patients presenting with AVH and back pain can be managed with either Percutaneous vertebroplasty or CT guided alcohol ablation. Patients presenting with AVH and neurological symptoms could be managed with surgery. Dynamic contrast enhanced MR, Diffusion weighted MR, ratio of signal intensity between T1w and Fat suppression T1w MR imaging could help the clinician in differentiating the two before contemplating biopsy.

GRADE PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION

C.

Characterization and Treatment of Spinal Tumors

The prevalence of spinal tumors is rare in comparison to brain tumors which encompass most central nervous system tumors. Tumors of the spine can be divided into primary and metastatic tumors with the latter being the most common presentation. Primary tumors are subdivided based on their location on the spinal column and in the spinal cord into intramedullary, intradural extramedullary, and primary bone tumors. Back pain is a common presentation in spine cancer patients; however, other radicular pain may be present. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice for intradural extramedullary and intramedullary tumors. Plain radiographs are used in the initial diagnosis of primary bone tumors while Computed tomography (CT) and MRI may often be necessary for further characterization. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice for spinal tumors and may be curative for well circumscribed lesions. However, intralesional resection along with adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy can be indicated for patients that would experience increased morbidity from damage to nearby neurological structures caused by resection with wide margins. Even with the current treatment options, the prognosis for aggressive spinal cancer remains poor. Advances in novel treatments including molecular targeting, immunotherapy and stem cell therapy provide the potential for greater control of malignant and metastatic tumors of the spine.

Multidisciplinary management of spinal metastases: what the radiologist needs to know

The modern management of spinal metastases requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes radiation oncologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, and diagnostic and interventional radiologists. The diagnostic radiologist can play an important role in the multidisciplinary team and help guide assessment of disease and selection of appropriate therapy. The assessment of spine metastases is best performed on MRI, but imaging from other modalities is often needed. We provide a review of the clinical and imaging features that are needed by the multidisciplinary team caring for patients with spine metastases and stress the importance of the spine radiologist taking responsibility for synthesizing imaging features across multiple modalities to provide a report that advances patient care.

Incidental osseous lesions on chest CT: an algorithmic approach for radiologists

Numerous osseous findings are commonly discovered incidentally at chest CTs in daily practice. A broad spectrum of these findings ranges from benign and do not touch lesions to ominous conditions requiring further imaging evaluation and/or intervention. Interpretation of these incidental musculoskeletal findings may constitute a diagnostic challenge to radiologists. This review provides a systematic, algorithmic approach to common osseous lesions on chest CT based on imaging findings with recommendations for proper next step management.

Intraosseous Venous Malformations of the Head and Neck

Intraosseous venous malformations represent a subtype of venous vascular malformations that arise primarily in bone. In the head and neck, intraosseous venous malformations are most frequently found in the skull, skull base, and facial skeleton, with location at the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve perhaps the most widely recognized. These non-neoplastic lesions are characterized by dilated venous channels with characteristic internal bony spicules on CT but may present with a more complex appearance on MR imaging and may share features with more aggressive lesions. Further confounding the imaging-based diagnosis of intraosseous venous malformation is the frequent misrepresentation of these lesions as hemangiomas in the radiology and clinical literature, as well as in daily practice. Because most intraosseous venous malformations can be left alone, their correct diagnosis may spare a patient unnecessary concern and intervention.

The Great Mimickers of Spinal Pathology

Back pain is one of the leading causes of health costs worldwide, particularly because of the further increased aging population. After clinical examination, spinal imaging is of utmost importance in many patients to reach the correct diagnosis. There are many imaging pitfalls and mimickers of spinal pathology on radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. These mimickers may lead to a misdiagnosis or a further imaging work-up if they are not recognized and thus lead to unnecessary examinations and increased health care costs. In this review we present the common mimickers of spinal pathology and describe normal variations when reading imaging studies of the spine.

Tumors of the Spine: When Can Biopsy Be Avoided?

Regarding osseous tumors of the spine, characteristic morphology is encountered in hemangioma of the vertebral body, osteoid osteoma (OO), osteochondroma, Paget's disease, and bone islands. In these cases, radiologic imaging can make a specific diagnosis and thereby avoid biopsy, especially when the radiologist has chosen the correct imaging modality to establish the diagnosis, such as thin-slice computed tomography in suspected OO. A benign lesion is suggested by a high amount of fat within the lesion, the lack of uptake of the contrast agent, and a homogeneous aspect without solid parts in a cystic tumor. Suspicion of malignancy should be raised in spinal lesions with a heterogeneous disordered matrix, distinct signal decrease in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, blurred border, perilesional edema, cortex erosion, and a large soft tissue component. Biopsy is mandatory in presumed malignancy, such as any Lodwick grade II or III osteolytic lesion in the vertebral column. The radiologist plays a crucial role in determining the clinical pathway by choosing the imaging approach wisely, by narrowing the differential diagnosis list, and, when characteristic morphology is encountered, by avoiding unnecessary biopsies.

Percutaneous alcohol embolization and vertebroplasty of a T2 aggressive vertebral hemangioma with prior embolization of dangerous arterial anastomoses

Aggressive vertebral hemangiomas usually exhibit extraosseous expansion that can result in spinal cord or radicular compression.1 In symptomatic cases, treatment by alcohol embolization and percutaneous vertebroplasty has been reported as feasible, safe, and effective with long-term benefits on neurological symptoms.2 Safety rules before vertebral alcohol embolization include preoperative spinal cord vascularization mapping and opacification through bone needles to assess the absence of dangerous intratumoral anastomoses.In video 1 we present a case of a symptomatic T2 aggressive vertebral hemangioma with dangerous anastomoses between the lesion and both supreme intercostal arteries (SIAs). Embolization by the arterial route of both SIAs was performed, which required good anatomic knowledge of the spinal cord vascularization at the cervicothoracic junction3 4 as a cervical radiculomedullary artery arose from the left costocervical trunk which also fed the left SIA. After occlusion of all dangerous arterial anastomoses, we were able to successfully perform T2 alcohol embolization and percutaneous vertebroplasty. neurintsurg;jnis-2022-019036v1/V1F1V1Video 1Case presentation.

The value of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in the study of spinal disorders

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have replaced conventional radiography in the study of many spinal conditions, it is essential to know when these techniques are indicated instead of or as complementary tests to radiography, which findings can be expected in different clinical settings, and their significance in the diagnosis of different spinal conditions. Proper use of CT and MRI in spinal disorders may facilitate diagnosis and management of spinal conditions. An adequate clinical approach, a good understanding of the pathological manifestations demonstrated by these imaging techniques and a comprehensive report based on a universally accepted nomenclature represent the indispensable tools to improve the diagnostic approach and the decision-making process in patients with spinal pain. Several guidelines are available to assist clinicians in ordering appropriate imaging techniques to achieve an accurate diagnosis and to ensure appropriate medical care that meets the efficacy and safety needs of patients. This article reviews the clinical indications of CT and MRI in different pathologic conditions affecting the spine, including congenital, traumatic, degenerative, inflammatory, infectious and tumor disorders, as well as their main imaging features. It is intended to be a pictorial guide to clinicians involved in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders.

Radiotherapy for vertebral hemangioma: the single-center experience of 80 patients

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy and to determine possible prognostic factors in patients with painful vertebral hemangioma.

METHODS

In the last two decades, 80 patients with vertebral hemangioma who received radiotherapy in our institute were evaluated in terms of pain response, treatment-related side effects, and prognostic factors. All patients were questioned 3 months after radiotherapy for the evaluation of pain response and were divided into three groups (complete response, partial response, and no change). Moreover, the visual analog scale (VAS) was used for pain response assessment in 46 patients. Pain status was assessed to detect recurrence at each clinical examination during the follow-up period. Possible prognostic factors such as gender, size of the hemangioma, location, multilevel involvement and additional musculoskeletal disease on pain response were analyzed.

RESULTS

In this study, 45 individuals had lesions in the lumbar spine, 28 in the thoracic, and 7 in the cervical region. Furthermore, 51 patients had additional musculoskeletal conditions such as disc herniation, degenerative diseases, spondylolisthesis, and compression fracture. Radiotherapy was performed with a median daily dose of 2 Gy and a median total dose of 40 Gy. Complete pain response occurred in 58.8% of patients, 26.2% of patients had partial pain response, and 15% of patients had no pain response. The overall response rate was 85%, and 7 patients showed recurrent pain symptoms in the overall response group at routine follow-up. Additional musculoskeletal disorders were found to be the only prognostic factor associated with pain response. The median follow-up time was 60 months. Secondary malignancy was not found in any of the patients in this short follow-up time. No acute or late radiation-associated side effects greater than grade II were observed.

CONCLUSION

To our best knowledge, this study is one of the largest single-institution radiotherapy series on vertebral hemangiomas reported to date. The obtained data support the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy in the treatment of painful vertebral hemangioma. Our study showed that additional musculoskeletal disease plays an important role in pain response. Other prognostic factors and treatment of vertebral hemangioma with stereotactic radiosurgery should be investigated in future studies.

Clinical evaluation of preoperative embolization, vertebroplasty, and decompression in the treatment of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative embolization and vertebroplasty in the treatment of aggressive hemangioma.

METHODS

A retrospective clinical review of patients diagnosed with aggressive vertebral hemangiomas was conducted. All the patients were assigned to three groups according to the treatment strategies: patients in Group A underwent embolization and decompression with internal fixation, patients in Group B underwent vertebroplasty and decompression with internal fixation, patients in Group C received all three treatments. Clinical indexes were compared within three groups.

RESULTS

There were 16 patients received embolization and decompression (Group A), 19 patients underwent decompression with vertebroplasty (Group B) and 16 patients in Group C. The operative duration of patients in group A (198.33 ± 38.43 min) were less than another two groups (p = 0.001). The intraoperative blood loss of patients in group C was 713.33 ± 165.13 mL, which was significantly less than group A and group B (p = 0.045). Patients in group C exhibited the lowest volume of drainage on POD 1 (178.33 ± 66.76 mL), which showed significant difference compared with group A (368.33 ± 191.15 mL, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference of preoperative and postoperative VAS and JOA score among three groups, as well as drainage on POD 2, total volume and hospital duration.

CONCLUSION

Both embolization and vertebroplasty are efficient and safe measures to reduce blood loss in the surgical treatment of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas, combination of all three methods is also competent.

Challenges regarding rehabilitation treatment in a case of postpartum spastic paraparesis, secondary to a T9 vertebral fracture on the pathologicallybone operated -case report

Introduction. Pregnancy is a well-known risk factor for asymptomatic hemangiomas discovered incidentally, becoming aggressive or symptomatic, most often in the third trimester of pregnancy, related to hemodynamic and endocrine changes that occur during pregnancy. Many patients experience incomplete spontaneous remission after birth. Material and method. We report the case of a 24-year-old woman, who presented for incomplete paraplegia, pain in the spine, instability of walking of the left lower limb, bilateral plantar paresthesia, possible walking with metal support. Results and discussions. The MRI performed identifies T9 vertebral fracture-compression on pathological bone, T10-T12 vertebral hemangiomas. Conclusions. In order to obtain favorable results, the patient benefited from the support and treatment of a multidisciplinary team: neurosurgeons, imagers, physical and rehabilitation medicine doctors and physiotherapists, and represented a real challenge regarding the complexity of the factors involved. Keywords: hemangioma, rehabilitation, multidisciplinary team

Aggressive L3 vertebral hemangioma coexisting with adult thoracolumbar scoliosis: Case report

Vertebral hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that are commonly asymptomatic. A low percentage might become aggressive; however, they are not known to be associated with scoliosis. We present a case of a third lumbar vertebral lesion coexisting with a moderate thoracolumbar scoliosis. The patient's initial presentation was back pain with bilateral lower limb radiculopathy and neurogenic claudication. Diagnosis was established using CT and MRI, which showed classical findings of an aggressive vertebral hemangioma. The patient underwent Partial hemangioma excision and scoliosis correction, with satisfactory outcome at 1 year follow up.

Imaging features and atypical signs of symptomatic vertebral haemangioma: a retrospective single-centre analysis of 118 patients

OBJECTIVES

Symptomatic vertebral haemangioma (SVH) can present with atypical imaging features. Thus, this study analysed the imaging features of SVH using CT and MRI to improve SVH awareness.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed CT and MRI characteristics of 118 patients with clinically and pathologically confirmed SVH.

RESULTS

Overall, 118 patients were diagnosed with SVH, including 79 females and 39 males (mean age, 45.76 ± 16.36 years). The thoracic spine (n = 86) was the most common location of SVH, followed by the lumbar spine (n = 17). Involvement of multiple spinal segments was observed in 15 patients (12.71%). A total of 101 lesions (85.59%) were centred in the vertebral body, 15 lesions (12.71%) were centred in the posterior attachment, and two lesions (2%) were centred in the paraspinal region. CT showed 39 lesions (33.05%) without a typical honeycomb or polka-dot pattern. Compression fracture was observed in 23 patients (19.49%). Extraosseous extension was present in 111 patients (94.1%), and 17 lesions (14.41%) presented with foraminal extension. Epidural bony compression was observed in 46 patients (38.98%). 20 lesions (16.95%) had atypical T₂ weighted MRI signals, and 8 lesions (10.26%) showed atypical enhancement.

CONCLUSION

SVH was predominantly located in the thoracic spine. Involvement of multiple segments, posterior attachment localisation, absence of honeycomb or polka-dot signs, compression fracture, and atypical T₂ weighted imaging signals and enhancement were uncommon. Epidural bony compression was not uncommon and has important clinical significance.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

The imaging features of SVHs are not fully understood. We examined the largest series of SVH cases reported to date.

Imaging characteristics of a rare case of monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the sacrum: A case report

BACKGROUND

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a common benign intramedullary fibro-osseous lesion. Involvement of the spine is rare, with the literature including only case reports, and cases of monostotic FD (MFD) in the sacrum are extremely rare. A correct preoperative diagnosis of spinal MFD is important for clinicians to select proper treatment.

CASE SUMMARY

We retrospectively assessed a case report of MFD in the sacrum. This patient was examined by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathology. A review of the literature was performed to analyze the imaging characteristics and differential diagnoses of spinal MFD. For our patient, the CT scan showed the lesion to be expansile, with ground glass opacity and a sclerotic rim. On MRI, the lesion showed iso-low signal intensity on T1WI and iso-high signal intensity on T2WI. A low signal rim was found on T1WI and T2WI. Our patient was treated by posterior focal excision, decompression, bone grafting, fusion and pedicle screw fixation. A satisfactory result was achieved, with pain disappearance. No complications had occurred at the 1-year follow up.

CONCLUSION

MFD is an expansile osteolytic change. Ground glass opacity and a sclerotic margin are obvious characteristics. The lesion often involves the vertebral body and posterior element. Knowledge of these imaging characteristics of spinal FD could be helpful for diagnosis and prevent unnecessary procedures.

Review article: the current status of CT-guided needle biopsy of the spine

CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the spine is a well-described technique for determining the nature of indeterminate vertebral lesions or establishing a diagnosis of spinal infection, the high diagnostic accuracy and the safety of the procedure having been extensively documented. The purpose of the current article is to review the literature to date on CT-guided spinal biopsy. Specifically, indications for spinal biopsy, techniques for optimising yield, detail of the approaches for various spinal levels which is dependent upon both the region within the spinal column and lesion location within the vertebra (body vs. neural arch), determinants of biopsy outcome and complications are covered. It is hoped that the review will be of particular benefit to junior radiologists who are required to perform this procedure.

Aggressive vertebral hemangioma: a post-bioptic finding, the gas web sign-report of two cases

Vertebral hemangiomas are relatively frequent among tumors of the spine. Most of them are asymptomatic and the diagnosis is usually made based solely on imaging. However, although rare, some hemangiomas with atypical imaging features (aggressive hemangiomas) can pose a diagnostic challenge. Clinically, these patients present with neurological symptoms. In imaging, aggressive hemangiomas appear as lesions with significant osseous expansion or extraosseous extension, mimicking the appearance of other tumors, such as metastasis or plasmacytoma. In such cases, a biopsy is often required to obtain a histopathological diagnosis in order to rule out the differential diagnoses mentioned above. We report on two cases of aggressive hemangiomas whose diagnosis remained uncertain until the pathology analysis. On CT-scan control immediately after biopsy, we have been surprised to observe the formation of gas bubbles inside the biopsied lesion, spreading over almost the whole vertebra. This gas web sign may support its liquid-filled spaces composition and its benign nature. Our goal was to highlight this finding and its usefulness.