Objective: To explain the magnetic resonance (MR) appearance of benign vertebral hemangioma by correlating MR and histological findings from autopsy specimens.
Design: Sagittal T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo images were obtained in 83 spine specimens. Focal lesions consistent with vertebral hemangioma at macroscopic examination of sagittal anatomical sections were sampled for histological and quantitative analysis. At histology, the proportion of surface area occupied by adipocytes, vessels and edema, and hematopoietic cells was determined (point-counting method) in normal marrow areas and in lesion areas whose signal intensity was either high and intermediate (pattern A) or intermediate and high (pattern B) on T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively.
Results: Nine lesions were sampled and corresponded to cavernous hemangioma at histology. The proportion of surface area occupied by adipocytes was statistically significantly higher in pattern A (78.1%) than in pattern B lesion areas (42.7%) and than in normal marrow areas (47.5%). The proportion of surface area occupied by vessels and interstitial edema was statistically significantly higher in pattern B (47.0%) than in pattern A lesion areas (15.5%) and than in normal marrow areas (0).
Conclusion: The presence of high signal intensity on T1- or T2-weighted images of vertebral hemangioma is related to the amount of adipocytes or vessels and interstitial edema, respectively.