Interesting Spine Interesting Spine Cases Cases M. Castillo, MD, FACR University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Dec 23, 2015
Interesting Spine CasesInteresting Spine Cases
M. Castillo, MD, FACR
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill
Case # 1
• 43-year-old male with a chronic history of dysesthesias and hypesthesias in all extremities. He has a chronic disease of which the most important findings are liver failure and decreased vision. Several members of his family had a similar history.
Case # 1. Which of the following is/are cause(s) of pial enhancement?
• 1. Metastases
• 2. Sarcoidosis
• 3. Amyloidosis
• 4. Lymphoma
• 5. All of the above
Case # 1. Regarding amyloidosis involving the spinal cord, which is true:
1. It predominantly involves the intrame-
dullary veins
2. It predominantly involves the arteries in
the subarachnoid space
3. It never results in cord contrast enhance-
ment
4. It affects heavy myelinated fibers
Case # 1. Dx: Amyloidosis involving Amyloidosis involving the piathe pia.
Familial amyloid polyneuropathy:– Deposition of amyloid in pial/subarachnoid
arteries & arterioles• Results in destruction of the blood-cord-barrier
– Sensory nerves & unmyelinated fibers most affected
– Precursors of FAP are metabolized by liver, thus liver transplantation is useful
» AJNR 2004; 25: 1599
Case # 2. The following may result in spinal ‘cysts’:
• A. Cysticercosis
• B. Exophytic syrinxes
• C. Post trauma arachnoid tears
• D. Post SAH arachnoid cysts
• E. All of the above
Case # 2. Which is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?
• A. Cysticercosis
• B. Exophytic syrinxes
• C. Post trauma arachnoid cysts
• D. Post SAH arachnoid cysts
• E. None of the above
Case # 2. Dx: Multiple spinal Multiple spinal ‘arachnoid’ cysts following aneurysmal ‘arachnoid’ cysts following aneurysmal
SAH.SAH.• Cysts may develop after hemorrhage, trauma
& inflammation
• Pre-existing or de novo? may have hemosiderin
• Composed of single layer of meningothelial cells
• May produce back pain/myelopathy that may be intermittent (syrinx)
Case # 3. The most likely diagnosis is related to which
category of disease:
• A. Metastasis
• B. Infection
• C. Degenerative disease
• D. Congenital
• E. None of the above
Case # 3. Which is false regarding the abnormality shown here:
• A. Trauma is a predisposing factor
• B. Disc herniation is a part of it
• C. Weakening of the end-plate may be a secondary factor
• D. Contrast enhancement may occur
• E. Infection plays a role
Case # 3. Dx: Acute enhancing Acute enhancing Schmorl node.Schmorl node.
• Pre-requisites: soft end-plate/bone trabeculae– Congenital: nutrient blood vessels– Metabolic diseases, tumors– Scheuermann disease
• May appear ‘cystic’ due to:– Intra-nodal hemorrhage, mucous degeneration
• Contrast enhancement: granulation tissues• Cause pain before MRI findings, pain
disappears by 3 years & node ‘stabilizes”
Case # 4. The most likely diagnosis is:
• A. Aneurysmal bone cyst
• B. Osteoid osteoma
• C. Osteoblastoma
• D. Giant cell tumor
• E. Fibrous dysplasia
Case # 5. Which is false regarding spinal osteoblastoma:
• A. If predominantly affects the posterior elements
• B. It may occasionally cross intervertebral space
• C. It is a benign process
• D. It is a lesion found in middle age and older individuals
Case # 4. Dx: Osteoblastoma.Osteoblastoma.
• Rare tumor (0.5-2%) comprised of osteoid, primitive woven bone amidst fibrovascular connective tissues
• Chronic pain, salicylates not helpful
• Sclerotic or lucent lesion, 25% have aggressive features
• Choice of Tx: en bloc resection, curettage with bone packing, XRT for malignant ones
Case # 5
A 10-year-old child with a longstanding right hemiparesis now with progressive left lower extremity weakness.
Case courtesy H. Alvarez, Paris
Case # 5. The findings shown are due to:
• 1. Spinal AVM• 2. Hematomyelia• 3. Spinal AVF• 4. Spinal cavernous
malformation
Case # 5. Imaging of the brain in this patient may show:
• 1. old infarctions
• 2. one or more AVM’s
• 3. Wallerian degeneration
• 4. hemiatrophy
• 5. all of the above
Case # 6. The diagnosis in this patient is:• 1. moyamoya disease
• 2. spinal arterial malformation syndrome (SAMS)
• 3. Rendu-Osler-Weber disease
• 4. Von Hippel Lindau disease
Case # 5. Dx: ROW.ROW.
• Abnormalities in chromosomes 9 & 12
• Defect in synthesis of ‘endoglin’ which is needed for growth/remodelling of capillaries
• > common in males• Multiple skin/mucosa
telangiectasias
Case # 6. The differential diagnosis in this case includes:
• 1. Multiple sclerosis
• 2. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
• 3. Vasculitis
• 4. Sarcoidosis
• 5. All of the above
Case # 6. Primary Angiitis of the Primary Angiitis of the CNS.CNS.
• Spinal cord vasculitis: idiopathic, associated with Hodgkin, thyroiditis, drug allergy, Sjogren, viral-induced, hepatitis
• Perivascular (artery & vein) infiltration by lymphocytes, cavitation, pial inflammation
• Prognosis is very poor, some temporary symptom relief with steroids, necrosis of spinal cord
Case # 7. The most likely diagnosis is:
• A. Neurofibromatosis I with dural ectasia
• B. Marfan syndrome with dural ectasia
• C. Ankylosing spondylitis with erosive dural ectasia
• D. Epidermoid with bone scalloping
Case # 7.All but one of the following are complications of ankylosing
spondylitis:
• A. “Banana” type fractures
• B. Erosive dural ectasia w/cauda equina syndrome
• C. Epidural hematomas
• D. Infectious diskitis/osteomyelitis
• E. Non-infectious diskitis/osteomyelitis (amyloidosis?)
Case # 7.Ankylosing Spondylitis, Newer Concepts
• B27 gene:– 95% of Europeans, only 25% in Middle East– Antiviral properties high in American Indians
who survived European viruses during conquest
• Bowel infection is a predisposing factor– Antibodies with cross reaction to joints
• Spine disease is not improved with anti-inflammatory drugs or methotrexate, need blockers of TNF