OBJECTIVE. Three elderly women with osteoporotic compression fractures
of a vertebral body underwent MR imaging because of neurologic signs
and symptoms. Atypical fluid collections were shown by MR imaging in a
ll three patients. For histologic characterization of these vertebral
fluid collections, CT-guided biopsies and aspirations were done for al
l three patients. CONCLUSION. After studying the clinical, histologic,
and imaging features of these fluid collections associated with verte
bral fracture, we suggest that they are most likely associated with un
derlying avascular necrosis.