Destructive diskovertebral lesions in ankylosing spondylitis: Appearance on magnetic resonance imaging

We report magnetic resonance imaging findings of diskovertebral lesions in a case of ankylosing spondylitis mimicking metastatic and/or infectious dis ease. Multiple hypointense areas were seen on TI-weighted images correspond ing to hyperintense areas on T2-weighted images in dorsal, lumbar, and sacr al vertebral bodies and the manubriosternal joint, with accompanying soft t issue masses. Diagnosis was achieved through biopsy, regression of the para vertebral soft tissue masses, later detection of bilateral sacroiliitis on computed tomography, and presence of histocompatibility antigen HILA-B27.