Posterior lumbar subcutaneous oedema

Changed by Tariq Walizai, 27 Jun 2024 at 3:56 PM UTC

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Disclosures - updated 5 Nov 2023: Nothing to disclose

Updates to Article Attributes

Title was changed:

Posterior lumbar subcutaneous ~~oedema~~edema

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Posterior lumbar subcutaneous oedema (PLSO) / posterior lumbar subcutaneous oedema (PLSE) is a very frequent finding on MRI of the spine. Clinical correlation is almost always required to identify the significance of this.

Epidemiology

It is more common in elderly and female patients.

Pathology

Aetiology

It is a result of poor lymphatic drainage in various conditions:

overweight/obesity (raised BMI)
cessation of physical activity due to low back pain
posterior compartment degenerative changes (facet joint arthropathy)
infectious process
neoplastic causes

Radiographic features

MRI

It is the same appearance as that of oedema elsewhere in the body.

T2 and STIR: ~~hyperintense~~ hyperintense signal
T1: ~~hypointense~~ hypointense signal

-<p><strong>Posterior lumbar subcutaneous oedema (PLSO) / posterior lumbar subcutaneous oedema (PLSE) </strong>is a very frequent finding on MRI of the spine. Clinical correlation is almost always required to identify the significance of this.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>It is more common in elderly and female patients. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>It is a result of poor lymphatic drainage in various conditions:</p><ul>
+<p><strong>Posterior lumbar subcutaneous oedema (PLSO) / posterior lumbar subcutaneous oedema (PLSE) </strong>is a very frequent finding on MRI of the spine. Clinical correlation is almost always required to identify the significance of this.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>It is more common in elderly and female patients. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>It is a result of poor lymphatic drainage in various conditions:</p><ul>
~~-<li><p>cessation of physical activity due to low back pain</p></li>~~
+<li><p>cessation of physical activity due to <a href="/articles/low-back-pain" title="Low back pain">low back pain</a></p></li>
~~-</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>MRI </h5><p>It is the same appearance as that of oedema elsewhere in the body.</p><ul>~~
~~-<li><p><strong>T2</strong> and<strong> STIR:</strong> hyperintense signal</p></li>~~
~~-<li><p><strong>T1:</strong> hypointense signal</p></li>~~
+</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>MRI </h5><p>It is the same appearance as that of oedema elsewhere in the body.</p><ul>
+<li><p><strong>T2</strong> and<strong> STIR:</strong> hyperintense signal</p></li>
+<li><p><strong>T1:</strong> hypointense signal</p></li>