J Korean Radiol Soc.  1981 Dec;17(3):536-541. 10.3348/jkrs.1981.17.3.536.

Radiological manifestations of tuberculosis of the spine

• Park BL
• Park CS
• Jun HW
• Kim BG

• KMID: 2463387
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1981.17.3.536

Abstract

The classical Roentgenographic features of tuberculosis of the spine such as narrowing of the intervertebraldisc, collapse of the vertebral bodies, with or without the shadow of a cold abscess, present a specific pictureof the actural pathological process. However, the diagnosis of tuberculosis is not confirmed unless proven bybiopsy, or the finding of the tubercle bacillus. 120 cases of proven spinal tuberculosis, at Kwangju ChristianHospital during the period form Jan 1973 through Aug. 1980, were studied and analysed. The results were asfollows; 1. The ratio of male to female was 1:1.1. The age preference was under 30 years old. 2. The most frequentsite of involvement was the lumbar spine(44.1%) and next the thoracic(39.2%0. 3. The incidence of lytic type was50.8%, mixed type 36.7%, and sclerotic type 12.5%. 4. Associated pulmonary tuberculous lesions were observed in 94patients (78.3%). 5. The central type, with wedging or collapse of the vertebral body, was more common in theyounger age group and the intrevertebral articular type in older patients. 6. The incidences of typical radiologicfindings were : Collapse of vertebral body(90%), cold abscess (78.3%) and narrowing of intervertebral space(70%).7. Associated kyphosis was observed in 37 cases (30.8%). Among these 37 cases the range of angulation was between21 to 40 degrees in 40%.

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Bacillus
Diagnosis
Female
Gwangju
Humans
Incidence
Kyphosis
Male
Spine*
Tuberculosis*
Tuberculosis, Spinal