Inflammatory involvement of vertebrae in ankylosing spondylitis.

Unusual destructive lesions of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae are described in two patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Biopsy of a lesion from one of the patients showed it to be inflammatory in nature. Possible mechanisms for vertebral centrum involvement in ankylosing spondylitis, centering on the role of enthesopathies are discussed.