L-Spine pathology

Question 1

How does ankylosing spondylitis appear?

Answer 1

Vertebral column becoming fused, appearance of piece of bamboo, anterior longitudinal ligaments calcifying

Question 2

How does herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) or herniated lumbar disk appear?

Answer 2

Possible narrowing of intervertebral disk spaces

Question 3

How does spinal bifida appear?

Answer 3

‘open’ posterior vertebra, exposure of part of spinal cord

Question 4

How does spondylolisthesis appear?

Answer 4

Forward slipping of one vertebra in relation to another

Question 5

How does spondylolysis appear?

Answer 5

Defect in the pars inerarticularis (Scottie dog wearing a collar)

Question 6

How does scoliosis appear?

Answer 6

Lateral curvature of vertebral column

Question 7

How does a compression fracture appear?

Answer 7

Anterior wedging of vertebrae; loss of body height

Question 8

How does a chance fracture appear?

Answer 8

Fracture through vertebral body and posterior elements

Question 9

How does metastases appear?

Answer 9

Depends on lesion type:
Destructive - irregular margins and decreased density
Osteoblastic - increased density
Combination - a moth-eaten appearance