Purpose:
This study was carried out to analyze the volume and localization of vertebral hemangiomas at the T12–L5 levels by MRI in patients with lower back pain.
Methods:
Thoracic-lumbar MRIs were examined retrospectively for a total of 150 patients. Hemangiomas observed in vertebral bodies on sagittal vertebral sections were assessed, and data were evaluated to determine the ratios with regard to sex, vertebra, and vertebral body localizations. Volumetric estimates were performed in the sagittal plane images, calculated using the Cavalieri principle.
Results:
Hemangiomas were observed in a total of 24 patients (16%), of whom 22 were female. Two patients had two hemangiomas in different vertebral bodies. The localizations of the hemangiomas were as follows: six (23.08%), six (23.08%), three (11.54%), six (23.08%), three (11.54%), and two (7.69%), in the T12–L5 vertebral bodies, respectively. Only one (3.84%) hemangioma was in the central part. The remaining seven (26.92%) and 18 (69.23%) hemangiomas were in the anterior and posterior halves, respectively. The mean volumes of the vertebral hemangiomas were 0.780 ± 0.165, 1.018 ± 0.210, 0.527 ± 0.079, 2.282 ± 1.333, 3.417 ± 1.598, and 0.910 ± 0.070 cm3 for the T12–L5 vertebral levels, respectively. The total mean volume of vertebral hemangiomas was found to be 1.484 ± 0.393 cm3.
Conclusions:
Certain volumetric discrepancies in radiological features exist in vertebral hemangiomas. This study suggests that the localization, features and volume of a vertebral hemangioma are important in order to understand the clinical symptoms and patient history better.
Keywords: Benign spinal tumors, hemangioma, MRI, tumor volume