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Vertebral Hemangiomas : Prevalence, New Classification and Natural History. Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Retrospective Longitudinal Study

Abul-Kasim, Kasim LU ; Persson, Erik LU ; Levinsson, Anders LU ; Strömbeck, Anita ; Selariu, Eufrozina LU and Ohlin, Acke LU (2023) In Neuroradiology Journal 36(1). p.23-30
Abstract

Background and purpose: To determine the prevalence of vertebral hemangiomas (VHs), establish a new classification of VHs based on their MRI-signal pattern, and study their natural history. Methods: MRI of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent at least two MRI with an interval of at least 3 years. Growth rate and change of MRI-signal pattern during the follow-up period were the parameters included in studying the natural history of VHs. Results: The prevalence of VHs was 41%. VHs were classified as type I–IV with fat-rich VHs (type I), constituted 79% of all VHs. VHs were more common among females 43% versus males 39%, p =.22. The most affected vertebra was L1. Occurrence rates for cervical (1%), thoracic (7%), and lumbar spine (10%)... (More)

Background and purpose: To determine the prevalence of vertebral hemangiomas (VHs), establish a new classification of VHs based on their MRI-signal pattern, and study their natural history. Methods: MRI of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent at least two MRI with an interval of at least 3 years. Growth rate and change of MRI-signal pattern during the follow-up period were the parameters included in studying the natural history of VHs. Results: The prevalence of VHs was 41%. VHs were classified as type I–IV with fat-rich VHs (type I), constituted 79% of all VHs. VHs were more common among females 43% versus males 39%, p =.22. The most affected vertebra was L1. Occurrence rates for cervical (1%), thoracic (7%), and lumbar spine (10%) differed significantly (p <.001). The prevalence of VHs increased with age regardless of gender or spinal part involved (p <.001). Only 26% of VHs changed their size and 4% changed their signal during the average follow-up of 7 years. All VHs were slowly growing lesions (average expected growth of <3 mm/10 years). No significant difference between growth rate of VHs type I (0.25 mm/year) and other types of VHs. None of the VHs that were initially reported as “metastases cannot be rule out” showed alarming change in signal or size. Conclusions: VH can be classified into four types based on their MRI-signal pattern. Regardless of their type, VHs are slowly growing lesions. The presence of typical morphological pattern should enable radiologists to confidently differentiate them from vertebral metastases.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
MRI, natural history, Vertebral hemangiomas
in
Neuroradiology Journal
volume
36
issue
1
pages
23 - 30
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:35507423
  • scopus:85132637519
ISSN
1971-4009
DOI
10.1177/19714009221098115
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6cbffd28-8833-4f76-9659-0414decab08c
date added to LUP
2022-09-16 10:55:33
date last changed
2025-10-17 02:31:22
@article{6cbffd28-8833-4f76-9659-0414decab08c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background and purpose: To determine the prevalence of vertebral hemangiomas (VHs), establish a new classification of VHs based on their MRI-signal pattern, and study their natural history. Methods: MRI of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent at least two MRI with an interval of at least 3 years. Growth rate and change of MRI-signal pattern during the follow-up period were the parameters included in studying the natural history of VHs. Results: The prevalence of VHs was 41%. VHs were classified as type I–IV with fat-rich VHs (type I), constituted 79% of all VHs. VHs were more common among females 43% versus males 39%, p =.22. The most affected vertebra was L1. Occurrence rates for cervical (1%), thoracic (7%), and lumbar spine (10%) differed significantly (p &lt;.001). The prevalence of VHs increased with age regardless of gender or spinal part involved (p &lt;.001). Only 26% of VHs changed their size and 4% changed their signal during the average follow-up of 7 years. All VHs were slowly growing lesions (average expected growth of &lt;3 mm/10 years). No significant difference between growth rate of VHs type I (0.25 mm/year) and other types of VHs. None of the VHs that were initially reported as “metastases cannot be rule out” showed alarming change in signal or size. Conclusions: VH can be classified into four types based on their MRI-signal pattern. Regardless of their type, VHs are slowly growing lesions. The presence of typical morphological pattern should enable radiologists to confidently differentiate them from vertebral metastases.</p>}},
  author       = {{Abul-Kasim, Kasim and Persson, Erik and Levinsson, Anders and Strömbeck, Anita and Selariu, Eufrozina and Ohlin, Acke}},
  issn         = {{1971-4009}},
  keywords     = {{MRI; natural history; Vertebral hemangiomas}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{23--30}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Neuroradiology Journal}},
  title        = {{Vertebral Hemangiomas : Prevalence, New Classification and Natural History. Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Retrospective Longitudinal Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/19714009221098115}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/19714009221098115}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}