· Metastases are the most common vertebral tumors.
· Osteolytic metastases occur more frequently than osteoblastic metastases.
· Some metastases have a mixed pattern, with areas of osteolysis and areas of sclerosis.
· Typically, metastases are multiple and of variable size with cortical disruption (osteolytic lesions).
· Vertebral compression fracture and epidural tumor are common in metastases.
· Some slow-growing metastases may mimic a primary bone tumor with mineralization and sclerotic margins.
· Osteolytic metastases are most often caused by carcinoma of the lung, breast, thyroid, kidney, and colon and (in childhood) neuroblastoma.
· Osteoblastic metastases are most commonly caused by prostate carcinoma in elderly men and by breast cancer in women.
· Other osteoblastic metastases are caused by lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, mucinous adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, bladder carcinoma, neuroblastoma, and (in childhood) medulloblastoma.
Reference : Diagnostic Imaging of Solitary Tumors of the Spine: What to Do and Say, July 2008 RadioGraphics, 28, 1019-1041.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave your comments