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Ivory vertebra

Case contributed by Ian Bickle
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Back pain in a patient with biopsy proven prostate carcinoma

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

Dense coarse sclerosis of the whole of the T12 vertebral body, including the posterior elements.

Height and alignment maintained.

Minor sclerosis of the right inferior pubic ramus.

Case Discussion

Classical appearances of an ivory vertebra, with diffusely dense vertebra.

The vast majority of cases are due to sclerotic metastases from prostate or breast carcinoma, although differentials include Paget disease.

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