Vertebral body fracture | Hemangioma of the spinal column

Vertebral body fracture

This is the most common benign tumor disease of the spine. Hemangiomas mainly affect the thoracic and lumbar spine. A hemangioma vertebra is only noticed by those affected in rare cases.

The vertebra can be first noticed by routine examinations or by a sinter fracture. Occasionally there may also be slight pressure pain in the spinal column. As a preventive measure, a hemangioma vertebra can be surgically replaced with bone material.

What is an atypical hemangioma of the spine?

There are no differences in the origin, nature and symptoms between a typical and an atypical hemangioma. There are radiological criteria for the diagnosis of hemangioma that clearly indicate a hemangioma. An atypical hemangioma, on the other hand, may look very variable in radiological ultrasound, X-ray, CT or MRI images and do not allow a reliable diagnosis.

Atypical hemangiomas can be very inhomogeneous, irregular and unclearly recognizable on the images. They often resemble a metastasis. Overall, however, even atypical hemangiomas are harmless in most cases and do not pose a threat.

Diagnosis

Hemangiomas are in most cases not recognized and often do not require treatment for life. However, some hemangiomas are discovered by chance during X-ray examinations of the spine. Symptomatic hemangiomas occur only rarely.

A chronic pressure pain of a vertebral body, possibly with neurological symptoms of the spinal canal, is an indication for an X-ray, CT or MRI control. The radiological image shows irregularities in the structure of the vertebral bodies in the presence of hemangiomas. In the case of typical hemangiomas, the radiologist can distinguish the hemangioma from malignant tumors and metastases on the basis of the structure.

If there are any uncertainties, a biopsy of the tumor can be performed with a needle. In the laboratory, the hemangioma can thus be clearly diagnosed. Magnetic resonance imaging is suitable for high-resolution imaging of soft tissue.

In contrast to X-ray and CT examinations, however, it is more complex and expensive, but has a high resolution and does not require radiation exposure. In the spinal column, MRI is often used for herniated discs or spinal canal stenosis. Hemangiomas are usually noticed as random findings. The benign tumors consist mainly of blood vessels and fatty tissue, which is why they look hyperintensive in the MRI image and thus brighter than bone tissue. In addition, there is often a vertical striation in the cross-section of the vertebral body.