Vertebral scalloping
Last revised by Yuranga Weerakkody on 8 Sep 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Weerakkody Y, Bickle I, et al. Vertebral scalloping. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Oct 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-2266
Permalink:
rID:
2266
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
8 Sep 2021,
Yuranga Weerakkody ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures
Revisions:
11 times, by
10 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Synonyms:
- Scalloping of the vertebrae
- Scalloping of vertebrae
- Vertebral body scalloping
- Scalloping of vertebral bodies
Vertebral scalloping is a concavity to the posterior (or less commonly anterior) aspect of the vertebral body when viewed in a lateral projection. A small amount of concavity is normal, as is concavity of the anterior vertebral body (see vertebral body squaring).
Posterior scalloping
Causes of posterior scalloping include the following, organized by mechanism 5:
- localized increased intraspinal pressure due to
-
intradural spinal mass
- ependymoma, most commonly myxopapillary ependymoma
- astrocytoma
- paraganglioma
- neurofibroma as seen in neurofibromatosis type 1
- schwannoma
- lipoma
- intraspinal cysts
-
intradural spinal mass
-
dural ectasia
- neurofibromatosis type 1, especially with lateral thoracic meningocele
- hereditary connective tissue disorders 4
- congenital skeletal disorders
- achondroplasia due to small spinal canal
- mucopolysaccharidoses
- acromegaly
A useful mnemonic can be found here.
Anterior scalloping
Causes of increased anterior scalloping include:
- retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, including (but not limited to):
- abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Down syndrome
References
- 1. Eisenberg RL. Clinical Imaging, An Atlas of Differential Diagnosis. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2009) ISBN:0781788609. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Wakely SL. The posterior vertebral scalloping sign. Radiology. 2006;239 (2): 607-9. doi:10.1148/radiol.2392040224 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Tsirikos AI, Ramachandran M, Lee J et-al. Assessment of vertebral scalloping in neurofibromatosis type 1 with plain radiography and MRI. Clin Radiol. 2004;59 (11): 1009-17. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2004.04.006 - Pubmed citation
- 4. Ross JS, Moore KR. Diagnostic Imaging: Spine. Elsevier Health Sciences. (2015) ISBN:0323400604. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. Mitchell GE, Lourie H, Berne AS. The various causes of scalloped vertebrae with notes on their pathogenesis. (1967) Radiology. 89 (1): 67-74. doi:10.1148/89.1.67 - Pubmed
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Articles:
- Morquio syndrome
- Cauda equina neuroendocrine tumour
- Acromegaly
- Hurler syndrome
- Animal and animal produce inspired signs
- Spinal nerve sheath tumours
- Dural ectasia
- Spinal ganglioglioma
- Spinal ependymoma
- Neurofibromatosis type 1 (musculoskeletal manifestations)
- Neurofibromatosis type 1
- Achondroplasia
- Marfan syndrome
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Spinal astrocytoma
- Achondroplasia (mnemonic)
- Posterior vertebral scalloping (mnemonic)
Cases:
- Dural ectasia - neurofibromatosis
- Astrocytoma - spinal cord
- Astrocytoma - spinal cord
- Dural ectasia
- Anterior vertebral scalloping (abdominal aortic aneurysm)
- Chronic contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm with extensive erosion of the vertebral bodies
- Dural ectasia in Marfan syndrome
- Achondroplasia
- Achondroplasia
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