Romanus lesion

In radiology, a Romanus lesion is the erosion of the anterior and posterior vertebral endplates in patients with an inflammatory spondyloarthropathy – such as ankylosing spondylitis or an enteropathic arthropathy.[1][2] The anterior erosion in particular causes a loss of anterior vertebral body concavity, causing the vertebra to display a squared contour or even a barrel-shape.[1] Healing of the erosion results in a sclerotic increase in density causing what is known as a shiny corner sign,[1][3] which can later result in syndesmophyte formation.[4] It is most easily diagnosed using MRI, compared to conventional radiography.[2]

This type of erosion was initially described by Ragnar Romanus and Sven Ydén in a paper published in 1952.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Yochum, Terry R.; Rowe, Lindsay J. (2015). Essentials of Skeletal Radiology. Wolters Kluwer Health. pp. 1039–1040. ISBN 9781451166484. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b Hermann, Kay-Geert A.; Althoff, Christian E.; Schneider, Udo; Zühlsdorf, Svenda; Lembcke, Alexander; Hamm, Bernd; Bollow, Matthias (May 2005). "Spinal Changes in Patients with Spondyloarthritis: Comparison of MR Imaging and Radiographic Appearances". RadioGraphics. 25 (3): 559–569. doi:10.1148/rg.253045117. ISSN 0271-5333. PMID 15888608.
  3. ^ Bennett, AN; Rehman, A; Hensor, EM; Marzo-Ortega, H; Emery, P; McGonagle, D (May 2010). "The fatty Romanus lesion: a non-inflammatory spinal MRI lesion specific for axial spondyloarthropathy". Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 69 (5): 891–4. doi:10.1136/ard.2009.112094. PMID 19666937. S2CID 206863735.
  4. ^ Schulthess, Gustav K.; Zollikofer, Christoph L. (2010). Musculoskeletal Diseases 2009-2012: Diagnostic Imaging. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 121. ISBN 9788847013780. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  5. ^ Romanus, Ragnar; Ydén, Sven (8 July 2009). "Destructive and Ossifying Spondylitic Changes in Rheumatoid Ankylosing Spondylitis". Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica. 22 (1–4): 88–99. doi:10.3109/17453675208988998. PMID 13030181.


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