Early diagnosis of single segment vertebral osteomyelitis - MR pattern andits characteristics

Nine cases of single segment vertebral osteomyelitis were included based on the single level of vertebral body involvement according to the MR finding s, They were 3 cases with tuberculous infection and 6 cases with pyogenic i nfection. The vertebral body involvement was presented as abnormal signal c hanges (100%) and heterogenous enhancement (77.7%), They usually caused the cortical disruption in its anterior aspect (100%). It goes along the upwar d subligamentous spread (100%) most often, then the upper disc involvement (66.6%) and down ward subligamentous spread (55.5%). The lower disc involve ment is least common (11.1%). By using these criteria, the single segment v ertebral osteomyelitis could be earlier diagnosed. (C) Elsevier Science Inc ., 1999.