Vertebral sarcoidosis: long-term follow-up with MRI

Skeletal Radiol. 2014 Aug;43(8):1185-90. doi: 10.1007/s00256-014-1870-1. Epub 2014 Mar 29.

Abstract

Vertebral involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and its clinical and imaging features are non-specific. Indeed, because the lesions are hard to differentiate from metastatic disease based on imaging alone, a histological confirmation is advised. Fatty replacement is a well-known finding indicating stabilization and healing in both benign and malignant conditions. It can be used as an indicator of a favorable disease course and response to treatment. We report the case of a 43-year-old woman with multifocal vertebral sarcoidosis lesions and long-term follow-up showing progressive and gradual fatty involution on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during 4 years of steroid treatment with a final favorable outcome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Contrast Media
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gadolinium
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Sarcoidosis / complications
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnosis*
  • Sarcoidosis / drug therapy
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / complications
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Spinal Diseases / complications
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Spine / pathology*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / pathology

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium