Abstract

A RESEARCH ANALYSIS OF RADIOLOGICAL IMAGING AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION IN PATIENTS OF POTT’S SPINE

Anil Yadav* Nouratan Singh, Dr. Ramakant Yadav  & Dr. A.K. Gupta

ABSTRACT

Background: Recently the use of CT and MRI has more helped to differentiate spinal tuberculosis. Objective: The objectives of the study were ï‚· To identify conditions which may have radiological and clinical features similar to those seen in patients with spinal tuberculosis, ï‚· How much dependable radiological and clinical features are in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis and ï‚· To identify and correlate the findings of radiological and histopathological. Methodology: Thirty consecutive patients with clinical and radiological features suggestive of spinal tuberculosis treated over a period of one year were analyzed in this study. We used MRI PHILIPS ACHIEVA NOVA 1.5 T, which is established in Radiology department in our hospital (U.P. Rural Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Saifai, Etawah). This retrospective case series analysis was done in a Multispecialty hospital at district Etawah. The clinical presentation, radiological features and the ESR were correlated with the histopathological diagnosis on tissue obtained by open biopsy in 30 cases during surgery and in 10 cases by closed vertebral biopsy. Results: Twenty five cases were histopathological proved as tuberculosis and ten proved to be non-tuberculosis lesions. In five cases, the inconclusive biopsies were excluded from the study. The study demonstrated that tuberculosis lesions were common in young patients; more often lesion in the paradiscal region as compared to non-tuberculosis lesions. However, other variables clinical and radiological were not significantly different to enable reliable identification of tuberculosis lesions, basis on the clinical and radiological features alone. Conclusion: It is highly recommended that all vertebral lesions suspected to be of TB origin not responding to empirical anti-tuberculosis therapy should have a definitive histopathological diagnosis and radiological investigation of CT and MRI to facilitate appropriate treatment.

Keywords: Pott’s spine, Non-TB lesions, Diagnostic criteria, MRI, Histopathology.