| Abstract: | Objective To compare the clinical significance of brucellosis spondylitis imaging in Yunnan province. Methods The data of 38 patients with Brucella spondylitis confirmed by clinical and laboratory examination in our hospital from January 2014 to November 2021 were collected, all of whom were local residents of Yunnan province. The data obtained from MRI and CT examination of the patients for the first time （37 cases of MRI examination, 26 cases of CT examination, 25 cases of MRI and CT examination at the same time） were retrospectively analyzed. Results In this study, 37 cases （97.4%） were involved in lumbar vertebrae, 37 cases （97.4%） were involved in multiple vertebrae, and 1 case （2.7%） only showed abscess formation at the posterior margin of vertebrae. It was found that the lesions mainly occurred at the upper and lower edges of the vertebral body, and the L4-5 vertebral bodies were most frequently involved, accounting for 44.7% （17/38）. One case （2.7%） had flattening of two affected vertebrae and four cases （10.5%） had mild spondylolisthesis of the affected vertebrae. 35 cases （92.1%） were associated with different degrees of bone destruction. Thirty-six patients （94.7%） suffered intervertebral disc damage. 24 cases （63.2%） had paraspinal and/or epidural abscess, and 2 cases （8.33%） had paraspinal abscess involving the right psoas major muscle. Conclusions The CT and MRI imaging manifestations of sporadic Brucella spondylitis in Yunnan are diverse, and the involvement of dead bone and abscess into the psoas major muscle and epidural abscess formation alone cannot completely exclude the disease. It is of guiding significance and reference value to clinical diagnosis and treatment. |
