Abstract
Objective: To explore the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of patients with brucellar spondylitis and try to classify them depending on the MRI findings. Material and methods: 67 patients (male&female: 50&17) with brucellar spondylitis were recruited in this study. MRI examinations were performed in all patients. Firstly, MRI data were analyzed by two senior radiologists. Secondly, according to the imaging findings, patients were divided into different types. Results: In all 67 patients with spinal brucellosis, 5 cases only had paravertebral soft tissue involved, 62 cases showed abnormal signal in single or multiple adjacent vertebrae. Thirty-five patients focused on the L4 vertebral involvement. 18 cases had appendage involvement. 27 cases hand intervertebral disc narrowing and cystic signal. Paravertebral, epidural and psoas abscesses were detected in 35, 20 and 8 cases. Patients were grouped according to MRI findings. The vertebral inflammatory type was the most frequently type with the rate of 35.8%, followed by discitis type 32.9%, adnexitis type 11.9%, paravertebral and psoas abscess type 11.9% and paravertebral soft tissue type 7.5%. Conclusion: It is not difficult to diagnose brucellar spondylitis in MRI findings based on clinical background and laboratory tests. According to the performance of MRI, five types can be classified.
