Butterfly vertebra
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Radswiki T, Rasuli B, Elfeky M, et al. Butterfly vertebra. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-12643
rID:
12643
Article created:
28 Dec 2010,
The Radswiki ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created The Radswiki had no recorded disclosures.
View The Radswiki's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Bahman Rasuli had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Bahman Rasuli's current disclosures
Revisions:
31 times, by
17 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- Butterfly type vertebrae
- Butterfly type vertebra
- Sagittal cleft vertebra
- Anterior rachischisis
- Butterfly vertebrae
Butterfly vertebra, also sometimes known as a sagittal cleft vertebra or anterior rachischisis, is a type of vertebral anomaly that results from the failure of fusion of the lateral halves of the vertebral body because of persistent notochordal tissue between them.
On this page:
Pathology
Butterfly vertebra can occur anywhere but the most commonly reported location is at T1 3,4. Approximately 40% of affected patients may have multiple butterfly vertebrae.
Associations
Multiple associations have been described which include.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Widening of the affected vertebral body. The bodies above and below the butterfly vertebra adapt to the altered intervertebral discs on either side by showing concavities along the adjacent endplates.
Some bone bridging may occur across the defect which usually happens in the thoracic or lumbar segments of the spine.
History and etymology
Karl Freiherr Rokitansky (1804-1878), a renowned Austrian pathologist, was the first who described a Butterfly vertebra in 1844 7.
References
- 1. Kumar R, Guinto F, Madewell J, Swischuk L, David R. The Vertebral Body: Radiographic Configurations in Various Congenital and Acquired Disorders. Radiographics. 1988;8(3):455-85. doi:10.1148/radiographics.8.3.3380991 - Pubmed
- 2. Chen Y, Liu Z, Chen J et al. The Genetic Landscape and Clinical Implications of Vertebral Anomalies in VACTERL Association. J Med Genet. 2016;53(7):431-7. doi:10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103554 - Pubmed
- 3. Kapetanakis S, Giovannopoulou E, Nastoulis E, Demetriou T. Butterfly Vertebra. A Case Report and a Short Review of the Literature. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2016;75(1):117-21. doi:10.5603/FM.a2015.0066 - Pubmed
- 4. Katsuura Y & Kim H. Butterfly Vertebrae: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Analysis. Global Spine J. 2019;9(6):666-79. doi:10.1177/2192568218801016 - Pubmed
- 5. Ekim A. Butterfly Vertebra Anomaly: A Case Report. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2010;23(3):161-4. doi:10.3233/BMR-2010-0262 - Pubmed
- 6. Boulet C, Schiettecatte A, De Mey J, De Maeseneer M. Case Report: Imaging Findings in a "Butterfly" Vertebra. Acta Neurol Belg. 2011;111(4):344-8. - Pubmed
- 7. Müller F, O'Rahilly R, Benson D. The Early Origin of Vertebral Anomalies, as Illustrated by a 'Butterfly Vertebra'. J Anat. 1986;149:157-69. PMC1261641 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Articles:
Cases:
- Congenital scoliosis
- Butterfly vertebra - L4
- Diastematomyelia type I
- Butterfly vertebra
- Esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula
- Diastematomyelia type I
- Diastematomyelia type I
- Butterfly vertebrae
- Cirrhosis
- Butterfly vertebra
- Butterfly vertebra - L3
- Diastematomyelia type 1
- Diastematomyelia - type II
- Butterfly vertebra
- Diastematomyelia
- Butterfly vertebra associated with Alagille syndrome
- Butterfly and lumbosacral transitional vertebrae
- Sternalis muscle and right intramuscular lipoma of subscapularis muscle
- Thoracolumbar vertebral fusional anomaly
- Butterfly vertebra and anal atresia
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