Vertebral pneumatocysts.

OBJECTIVE

To review the prevalence and location of vertebral pneumatocysts and evaluate the CT findings of these benign lesions.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Retrospectively we reviewed CT images of 89 patients with suspected disc disease during a 6-month period.

RESULTS

Distinctive CT pattern of intraosseous pneumatocysts involving the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine was found. In 8 patients (9%), 10 vertebral pneumatocysts were detected. Five were located in the vertebral body and 4 of these were associated with vacuum phenomenon in adjacent intervertebral discs. Five were located near the facet joint and all were associated with vacuum phenomenon in adjacent facet joint.

CONCLUSION

Intraosseous pneumatocyst is a benign lesion, therefore biopsy and follow-up are unnecessary. Although vertebral pneumatocysts seem to be uncommon with a few reported cases, this study shows them to be more frequent than previously thought.