Curtain sign (vertebral body mass)

Changed by Craig Hacking, 26 May 2015

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

The Curtain sign (or Draped curtain sign) in neuroimaging refers to the appearance of a vertebral body mass that extends to the anterior epidural space.

The posterior longitudinal ligament is strongly attached to the posterior vertebral body wallcortex in its medial portion but it has a looser attachmentthe midline and is more loosely attached laterally.

If a vertebral body lesion (e.g. a vertebral metastasis, vertebral hemangioma) extends posteriorly to the anterior epidural space, it displaces the posterior longitudinal ligament. However this is limited by that strong medial fixation, giving a bilobular intracanalar aspect in the axial images, which is commonly called Curtain sign (or Draped curtain sign).

  • -<p>The <strong>Curtain sign</strong> (or <strong>Draped curtain sign</strong>) in neuroimaging refers to the appearance of a vertebral body mass that extends to the anterior epidural space.</p><p>The <a href="/articles/posterior-longitudinal-ligament">posterior longitudinal ligament </a>is strongly attached to the vertebral body wall in its medial portion but it has a looser attachment laterally.</p><p>If a vertebral body lesion (e.g. a <a href="/articles/vertebral-metastases">vertebral metastasis</a>, <a href="/articles/primary-intraosseous-haemangioma">vertebral hemangioma</a>) extends posteriorly to the anterior epidural space, it displaces the posterior longitudinal ligament. However this is limited by that strong medial fixation, giving a bilobular intracanalar aspect in the axial images, which is commonly called <strong>Curtain sign </strong>(or <strong>Draped curtain sign</strong>).</p>
  • +<p>The <strong>Curtain sign</strong> (or <strong>Draped curtain sign</strong>) in neuroimaging refers to the appearance of a vertebral body mass that extends to the anterior epidural space.</p><p>The <a href="/articles/posterior-longitudinal-ligament">posterior longitudinal ligament </a>is strongly attached to the posterior vertebral body cortex in the midline and is more loosely attached laterally.</p><p>If a vertebral body lesion (e.g. a <a href="/articles/vertebral-metastases">vertebral metastasis</a>, <a href="/articles/primary-intraosseous-haemangioma">vertebral hemangioma</a>) extends posteriorly to the anterior epidural space, it displaces the posterior longitudinal ligament. However this is limited by that strong medial fixation, giving a bilobular intracanalar aspect in the axial images, which is commonly called <strong>Curtain sign </strong>(or <strong>Draped curtain sign</strong>).</p>

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