Research Professor, Clinical and Applied Anatomy and Pathology
Uppsala University Hospital
|
Pathological fracture of a midlumbar
vertebra that had been weakened by a hypernephroma metastasis. Both
the upper and the lower endplates have yielded in an almost
symmetrical fashion and triangular bone fragments are tilted so as
to create the appearance of a 'fish vertebra'. The overall height of
this vertebral segment is slightly decreased but no there is no
major sagittal kyphotic angulation. The adjacent discs have expanded
in a compensatory fashion and they seem to have exploded into the
collapsed vertebra. Posteriorly in the vertebra, infiltration of
cancerous growth in the area of the Batson venous plexus and through
the vascular outlet foramina causes the periosteum and the dura to
bulge posteriorly into the vertebral canal. Note that the disc
margins are almost straight anteriorly and posteriorly. The vertebra
below is normal and has natural cancellous bone texture and red bone
marrow. In its posterior wall a normal basivertebral vein outlet is
seen. |
©2000 Wolfgang Rauschning, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Clinical Anatomy
Academic
University Hospital
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Uppsala, Sweden
Reproduction without permission is prohibited
http://www.akademiska.se/Updated on: 02/01/10
