Advanced

AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

This Article Abstract Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kowalski, T.J. Articles by Osmon, D.R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kowalski, T.J. Articles by Osmon, D.R.

Follow-Up MR Imaging in Patients with Pyogenic Spine Infections: Lack of Correlation with Clinical Features

T.J. Kowalski^a, K.F. Layton^b, E.F. Berbari^a, J.M. Steckelberg^a, P.M. Huddleston^c, J.T. Wald^b and D.R. Osmon^a

^a Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn
^b Department of Internal Medicine, the Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn
^c Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn

View larger version (95K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 1. Baseline postcontrast axial T1 (A) and sagittal T1 fat-saturated (B) images demonstrate enhancing tissue in the ventral epidural space (arrows) as well as enhancement in the L3 and L4 vertebral bodies. Follow-up axial (C) and sagittal (D) postcontrast T1-weighted images demonstrate resolution of the enhancing epidural tissue. Persistent enhancement of the vertebral bodies and disk space is seen in this patient despite clinical improvement.

View larger version (92K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 2. Baseline postcontrast fat-saturated sagittal (A) T1-weighted imaging demonstrates abnormal enhancement of the paraspinal soft tissues (arrow). Follow-up postcontrast T1-weighted imaging (B) demonstrates persistence of paraspinal enhancement (arrow) and new enhancement in the vertebral bodies and disk space. Despite a worsening appearance on MR imaging, this patient was improving clinically.

View larger version (86K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 3. Baseline postcontrast fat-saturated axial T1-weighted imaging (A) demonstrates a paraspinal phlegmon (arrow). Despite clinical improvement, follow-up postcontrast T1-weighted images demonstrate apparent worsening. The paraspinal phlegmon has increased in size (arrow) and now has a small nonenhancing component suggestive of early abscess formation. There is also increased enhancement in the disk space.