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Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae: significance of local bone marrow edema at the transverse processes

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the association between low back pain and bone marrow edema in lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) transverse processes, and to assess the prevalence of LSTV in a physically active population.

Materials and methods

Individuals with LSTV on coronal MRI studies were identified in a retrospective review by keyword search from PACS. In total, 140 cases were reviewed by two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. Data on associated low back pain were collected from patient records at the time of the imaging.

Results

Bone marrow edema was observed in 44% of the cases, but no correlation with low back pain was found. On coronal MRI, the prevalence of LSTV was 2.6%, with type II LSTV being the most common subtype.

Conclusions

No correlation with bone marrow edema at the transverse processes of the LSTV and low back pain was observed. In our selected study population, the prevalence of LSTV was low.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 132 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Mika T. Nevalainen, Eoghan McCarthy, William B. Morrison, Adam C. Zoga & Johannes B. Roedl

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 50, 90029, Oulu, Finland

    Mika T. Nevalainen

  3. Department of Radiology, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, D15, Ireland

    Eoghan McCarthy

Authors
  1. Mika T. Nevalainen
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  2. Eoghan McCarthy
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  3. William B. Morrison
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  4. Adam C. Zoga
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  5. Johannes B. Roedl
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Correspondence to Mika T. Nevalainen.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Nevalainen, M.T., McCarthy, E., Morrison, W.B. et al. Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae: significance of local bone marrow edema at the transverse processes. Skeletal Radiol 47, 1145–1149 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-2900-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-2900-1

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