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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2022; 26(04): 439-452
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748914
Review Article

The Great Mimickers of Spinal Pathology

Nadja A. Farshad-Amacker
1   Department of Radiology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Reto Sutter 
1   Department of Radiology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Abstract

Back pain is one of the leading causes of health costs worldwide, particularly because of the further increased aging population. After clinical examination, spinal imaging is of utmost importance in many patients to reach the correct diagnosis. There are many imaging pitfalls and mimickers of spinal pathology on radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. These mimickers may lead to a misdiagnosis or a further imaging work-up if they are not recognized and thus lead to unnecessary examinations and increased health care costs. In this review we present the common mimickers of spinal pathology and describe normal variations when reading imaging studies of the spine.

Keywords

pitfalls - spinal variants - spine - normal - mimicking


Publication History

Article published online:
14 September 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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