A collapsed vertebral body is one that has lost height.
If any collapse is present, it is essential to look at the adjacent disc , pedicle and the posterior vertebral wall.
Causes of vertebral collapse include:
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Metastases and myeloma: Bone destruction, or replacement of normal marrow by a lytic tumor, may be visible.
The pedicles are a good place to look for evidence of bone destruction on plain film examination
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Infection: The adjacent disc space is nearly always narrow or obliterated. the pedicles are usually intact.
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Osteoporosis: There is generalized reduction in bone density. The disc spaces are normal or even slightly increased in height, and the pedicles are intact.
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Trauma: The vertebral body becomes wedge-shaped .The discs are normal
Collapsed vertebra.
(a) Metastasis (arrow) causing complete collapse of the vertebral body. The adjacent vertebral discs are unaffected.
(b) Osteomyelitis. The disc space is narrowed and there is destruction of the surfaces of the adjacent vertebral bodies (arrows).
(c) Traumatic collapse. Note the concave superior surface of the collapsed vertebral body. Some fragments have been extruded anteriorly (arrow).
(d) Osteoporotic collapse. There is decreased bone density with a collapse of a vertebral body due to a compression fracture.