Hämangiom der Wirbelsäule

Vertebral hemangiomas are the most common benign vertebral neoplasms. They are usually asymptomatic and incidentally detected due to their characteristic features on imaging for other reasons. Rarely, they can be locally aggressive (see: aggressive vertebral hemangioma).

Please refer to the article on primary intraosseous hemangioma for a general discussion in this entity.

Epidemiology

The incidence of vertebral hemangiomas is about 10% at autopsy . The majority of hemangiomas are incidentally noted on routine radiographs of the spine. Often, small hemangiomas cannot be visualized on radiographs and are found with more advanced imaging such as CT or MRI, or upon gross dissection. The occurrence of vertebral hemangiomas is seen slightly more in females for unknown reasons and is more symptomatic in the 4 decade of life.

Clinical presentation

Most hemangiomas are asymptomatic. The collapse of the vertebral body or encroachment into the neural canal are some of the classic causes of pain. An increase in activity can cause the vertebral hemangioma to become painful, such as starting to exercise, housework and such. This is most likely due to axial loading through the body of the vertebra.

Pathology

They are composed of vascular spaces which causes a displacement of the bone. It has two main histopathological types, cavernous (involves relatively large vessels) and capillary (involves small capillaries) angiomas. In some cases, specifically capillary types, lytic erosion into the epidural space can occur, however rare . They are slow-growing and most are not symptomatic.

Distribution

The majority of all vertebral hemangiomas occur in the thoracic spine but can be found throughout the spine.

Radiographic features

The classic “corduroy cloth” or "jail bar" appearance is strongly associated with vertebral hemangiomas.

CT

Axial CT will show a “polka-dotted”  or "salt and pepper" appearance due to the thickened vertebral trabeculae .

MRI

MRI shows extraosseous components better and depicts the hemangioma components as fat and water. Thickened trabeculae appear as low signal areas in both T1 and T2 images.

• T1: high-intensity signal due to its fat component
• T2: bright/high-intensity signal, usually greater than on T1, due to its high water content 
• T1 C+: significant enhancement is seen due to high vascularity

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment for most hemangiomas is not necessary. When neurological deficits or severe pain treatment is necessary. In symptomatic lesions, there are many options that must be weighed. Radiotherapy, balloon kyphoplasty or transarterial embolization with associated laminectomy are some of those options .

Serious bleeding can be a complication so care must be taken when undergoing open procedures.

Differential diagnosis

• metastases 
  • usually have decreased signal intensity on T1 and increased signal intensity on T2

Siehe auch:

• atypisches Hämangiom Wirbelkörper
• Hämangiom
• Hämangiomwirbel
• intraossäres Hämangiom
• Osteoporose Wirbelsäule
• Palisadenwirbel
• fatty hemangioma
• Tumoren der Wirbelsäule
• spinal intradural extramedullary haemangiomas
• Punktmuster-Zeichen (Wirbelkörperhämangiom)
• Corduroy-Zeichen (Wirbelkörperhämangiom)

und weiter:

• MRT Hämangiom Wirbelsäule
• Hämangiom der Wirbelsäule
• Platyspondylie
• intraossäres Lipom
• Aseptische Wirbelkörpernekrose
• vertebrale Metastasen
• Vertebra plana
• Diastematomyelie
• intradural spinal mass lesions - an approach
• diffuse high T1 signal intensity in spinal bone marrow
• intradural extramedullary capillary haemangioma
• fetthaltiger Knochentumor
• Hämangiom Kontrastmittelverhalten
• Hämangiom des Sakrums
• vertebral hemangioma bone scan
• Vorhangzeichen
• Wirbelkörperhämangiom und Rückenschmerzen
• Punkt-Zeichen