Skip to main content

Spinal Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases

  • Conference paper
Diseases of the Brain, Head & Neck, Spine 2012–2015

Abstract

The neuroimaging evaluation of patients with myelopathy is a fundamental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) application, though it can be one of the more challenging examinations from a technical, interpretative, and differential diagnostic standpoint. The common pathologic lesions responsible for producing myelopathic symptoms in patients include intrinsic and extrinsic compressive, neoplastic, and inflammatory processes. This article focuses on spinal inflammatory diseases and reviews the MR interpretative and clinical-pathologic features of several important disease entities that produce spinal inflection and intrinsic inflammatory myelopathy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Lisbona R, Rosenthal L (1977) Observations on the sequential use of Tc-99m phosphate complex and Ga-67 imaging in osteomyelitis, cellulitis, and septic arthritis. Radiology 123: 123–129

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gelman MI, Coleman RE, Stevens PM et al (1978) Radiography radionuclide imaging and arthrography in the evaluation of total hip and knee replacement. Radiology 1978: 128:677–682

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Weiss PPE, Mall JC, Hoffer PB et al (1979) Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate bone imaging in the evaluation of total hip prosthesis. Radiology 133:727–729

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. McAfee JG, Samin A (1985) In-111 labeled leukocytes: a review of problems in image interpretation. Radiology 155:221–229

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Golimbu C, Firooznia H, Rafii M (1984) CT of osteomyelitis of the spine. AJR Am J Roentgenol 142:159–163

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Modic MT, Feiglin DH, Piraino DW et al (1985) Vertebral osteomyelitis: assessment using MR. Radiology 157:157–166

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Modic MT, Weinstein MA, Pavlicek W et al (1983) Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the spine. Radiology 148:757–762

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. deRoos A, Van Meerten EL, Bloem JL et al (1986) MRI of tuberculosis spondylitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 146:79–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Dagirmanjian A, Schils J, Modic MT (1993) Vertebral osteomyelitis revisited. Radiology 189:193

    Google Scholar 

  10. Norman A, Kambolis CP (1964) Tumors of the spine and their relationship to the intervertebral disc. AJR Am J Roentgenol 92:1270–1274

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Resnick D, Niwayama G (1987) Intervertebral disc abnormalities associated with intervertebral metastases: observation in patients and cadavers with prostatic cancer. Invest Radiol 13(3):182–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TS et al (1992) Postoperative diskitis: Distinguishing early MR imaging findings from normal postoperative disk space changes. Radiology 184:765–771

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hlavin ML, Kaminski HJ, Ross JS, Ganz E (1990) Spinal epidural abscess: a ten-year perspective. Neurosurgery 27:177–184

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rankin RM, Flothow PG (1946) Pyogenic infection of the spinal epidural space. West J Surg Obstet Gynecol 54:320–323

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Baker AS, Ojemann RG, Swartz MN, Richardson EP (1975) Spinal epidural abscess. N Engl J Med 293:463–468

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Browder J, Meyers R (1941) Pyogenic infections of the spinal epidural space. Surgery 10:296–308

    Google Scholar 

  17. Angtuaco EJC, McConnell JR, Chadduck WM et al (1987) MR imaging of spinal epidural sepsis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 8:879–883

    Google Scholar 

  18. Post MJD, Quencer RM, Montalvo BM et al (1988) Spinal infection: evaluation with MR imaging and intraoperative US. Radiology 169:765–771

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Post MJD, Sze G, Quencer RM et al (1990) Gadoliniumenhanced MR in spinal infection. J Comput Assist Tomogr 14(5):721–729

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Tartaglino LM, Friedman DP, Flanders AE et al (1995) Multiple sclerosis in the spinal cord: MR appearance and correlation with clinical parameters. Radiology 195:725–732

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tartaglino LM, Flanders AE, Rapoport RJ (1994) Intramedullary causes of myelopathy. Semin US CT MRI 15:158–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kidd D, Thorpe JW, Thompson AJ et al (1993) Spinal cord MRI using multi-array coils and fast spin echo. Findings in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 43:2632–2637

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Losseff NA, Webb SL, O’Riordan J et al (1996) Spinal cord atrophy and disability in multiple sclerosis. Brain 119:701–708

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wiebe S, Lee DH, Karlik SJ et al (1992) Serial cranial and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol 32:643–650

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lycklama a Nijeholt GJ, Barkof F, Scheltens P et al (1997) MR of the Spinal Cord in Multiple Sclerosis: Relation to clinical subtype and disability. AJNR AM J Neuroradiol 18:1041–1048

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kidd D, Thorpe JW, Kendall BE et al (1996) MRI dynamics of brain and spinal cord in progressive multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg and Psych 60:15–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Choi KH, Lee KS, Chung SO et al (1996) Idiopathic transverse myelitis: MR characteristics. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 17:1151–1160

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Campi A, Filippi M, Comi G et al (1995) Acute transverse myelopathy: spinal and cranial MR study with clinical followup. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 16:115–123

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Gero B, Sze G, Sharif H (1991) MR Imaging of intradural inflammatory diseases of the spine. AJR Am J Roentgenol 12:1009–1019

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Holtas S, Basibuyuk N, Fredriksson K (1993) MRI in acute transverse myelopathy. Neuroradiol 35:221–226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mascalchi M, Cosottini M, Cellerini M et al (1998) MR of spinal cord involvement in Bechet’s disease: Case report. Neuroradiol 40:255–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Pardatscher K, Fiore DL, Lavano A (1992) MR imaging of transverse myelitis using Gd-DTPA. J Neuroradiol 19:63–67

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Transverse Myelitis Consortium Working Group (2002) Proposed diagnostic criteria and nosology of acute transverse myelitis. Neurology 59:499–505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Ghezzi A, Bergamaschi R, Martinelli V et al (2004) Clinical characteristics, course and prognosis of relapsing Devic’s neuromyelitis optica. J Neurol 251:47–52

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Wingerchuk DM, Lennon VA, Pittock SJ et al (2006) Revised diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica. Neurology 66:1485–1489

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Weinshenker BG, Wingerchuk DM, Vukusic S et al (2006) Neuromyelitis optica IgG predicts relapse after longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Ann Neurol 59:566–569

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Wingerchuk DM, Weinshenker BG (2002) Neuromyelitis optica: Clinical predictors of a relapsing course and survival. Neurology 60:848–853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Wingerchuk DM (2007) Diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelitis optica. Neurologist 13:2–11

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Giovannoni G (2006) Neuromyelitis optica and anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies: widening the clinical phenotype. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 77:1001–1002

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Bloch O, Manley GT (2007) The role of aquaporin-4 in cerebral water transport and edema. Neurosurg Focus 22:E3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Quencer RM, Post MJD (1997) Spinal cord lesions in patients with AIDS. Neuroimag Clin North Am 7:359–373

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Sartoretti-Schefer S, Blattler T, Wichmann W (1997) Spinal MRI in patients with vacuolar myelopathy, and correlation with histopathological findings. Neuroradiol 39:865–869

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Santosh CG, Bell JE, Best JJK (1995) Spinal tract pathology in AIDS: Postmortem MRI correlation with neuropathology. Neuroradiology 37:134–138

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Gray F, Belec L, Lescs MC et al (1994) Varicella zoster virus infection of the central nervous system in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Brain 117:987–999

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Hirai T, Korogi Y, Hamatake S et al (1996) Case report: Varicella zoster virus myelitis-serial MR findings. BR J Radiol 69:1187–1190

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Hansman Whiteman ML, Dandapani BK, Shebert RT, Post MJD (1994) MRI of AIDS-related polyradiculomyelitis. J Comput Assist Tomogr 18:7–11

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Malzberg MS, Rogg JM, Tate CM et al (1993) Poliomyelitis: hyperintensity of the anterior horn cells on MR images of the spinal cord. AJR Am J Roentgenol 161:863–865

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Donovan WD, Zimmerman RD (1996) MRI findings of severe Epstein Barr virus encephalomyelitis. J Comput Assist Tomogr 20:1027–1029

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Shakudo M, Inoue Y, Tsutada T (1999) HTLV-1 associated myelopathy: acute progression and atypical MR findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 20:1417–1421

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Murphy KJ, Brunberg JA, Quint DJ, Kazanjian PH (1998) Spinal cord infection: myelitis and abscess formation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 19:341–348

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Friess HM, Wasenko JJ (1997) MR of staphylococcus myelitis of the cervical spinal cord. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 18:455–458

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. King SJ, Jeffree MA (1993) MRI of an abscess of the cervical cord in a case of Listeria meningoencephalomyelitis. Neuroradiol 35:495–496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Sanchez Pernaute RS, Berciano J, Rebollo M et al (1996) Intramedullary tuberculoma of the spinal cord with syringomyelia. Neuroradiol 38:105–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Yunten N, Alper H, Zileli M et al (1996) Tuberculous radiculomyelitis as a complication of spondylodiscitis: MR demonstration. J Neuroradiol 23:241–244

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Nabatame H, Nakamura K, Matuda M (1992) MRI of syphilitic myelitis. Neuroradiol 34:105–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Rieger J, Hosyen N (1994) Spinal cord sarcoidosis. Neuroradiol 36:627–628

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Bennett G, Provenzale JM (1998) Schistosomal myelitis: findings at MR imaging. Eur J Radiol 27:268–270

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Dupuis MJM, Atrouni S, Dooms GC et al (1990) MR imaging of schistosomal myelitis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 11:782–783

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Silbergleit R (1992) Schistosomal granuloma of the spinal cord: evaluation with MR imaging and intraoperative sonography. AJR Am J Roentgenol 158:1351–1353

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Leite CC, Jinkins JR, Escobar BE et al (1997) MR imaging of intramedullary and intradural-extramedullary spinal cysticercosis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 169:1713–1717

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Chang KH, Lee JH, Han MH, Han MC (1991) The role of contrast-enhanced imaging in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 12:509–512

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Timms SR, Cure JK, Kurent JE (1993) Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord: MR findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 14:1224–1227

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Pema PJ, Horak HA, Wyatt RH (1998) Myelopathy caused by nitrous oxide toxicity. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 19:894–896

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Wang PY, Shen WC, Jan JS (1995) Serial MRI changes in radiation myelopathy. Neuroradiol 37:374–377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Wang PY, Shen WC, Jan JS et al (1992) MR imaging in radiation myelopathy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 13:1049–1055

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia

About this paper

Cite this paper

Ross, J.S. (2012). Spinal Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases. In: Hodler, J., von Schulthess, G.K., Zollikofer, C.L. (eds) Diseases of the Brain, Head & Neck, Spine 2012–2015. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2628-5_26

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2628-5_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2627-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2628-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics