Skip to main content
Top
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Research article

The correlation between follow-up MRI findings and laboratory results in pyogenic spondylodiscitis

Authors: Kyung-Sik Ahn, Chang Ho Kang, Suk-Joo Hong, Baek Hyun Kim, Euddeum Shim

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Although MRI is the gold-standard imaging method in the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis, role of follow-up imaging is debated and there can be discrepancies with regard to the significance of bony or soft tissue responses to treatment. Purpose of our study is to test whether the MRI changes on follow-up imaging correlate with laboratory findings of treatment response.

Methods

A total of 48 patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis who underwent baseline and follow-up MRI were retrospectively reviewed. The extent of bone marrow edema, paravertebral soft tissue inflammation, and disc height were compared on baseline and follow-up MRIs with the C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels obtained from the medical records at baseline and on follow-up. Relationships between the MRI and laboratory changes were analyzed using the Spearmann correlation test.

Results

The mean MRI follow-up period was 42.25 days. Based on the CRP (resolved: n = 19, resolving: n = 19, and aggravated: n = 10), there was significant correlation between the laboratory results and the changes in the bone and soft tissues (p < 0.01, both). The correlation was best with soft tissue changes (rho: 0.48) followed by bony changes (rho: 0.41). Based on the ESR (resolved: n = 8, resolving: n = 22, and worsened: n = 18), the correlation was stronger with bone changes (rho: 0.45, p < 0.01) than it was with soft tissue changes (rho: 0.39, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Follow-up MRI findings of pyogenic spondylodiscitis show variable tissue responses. CRP was best correlated with soft tissue changes, while ESR showed the best association with bony changes.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Carragee EJ. Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1997;79(6):874–80 [PubMed:9199385].CrossRef Carragee EJ. Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1997;79(6):874–80 [PubMed:9199385].CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Carragee EJ. The clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997;22(7):780–5 [PubMed:9106320].CrossRef Carragee EJ. The clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997;22(7):780–5 [PubMed:9106320].CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Kowalski TJ, Layton KF, Berbari EF, Steckelberg JM, Huddleston PM, Wald JT, et al. Follow-up MR imaging in patients with pyogenic spine infections: lack of correlation with clinical features. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2007;28(4):693–9 [PubMed:17416823].PubMed Kowalski TJ, Layton KF, Berbari EF, Steckelberg JM, Huddleston PM, Wald JT, et al. Follow-up MR imaging in patients with pyogenic spine infections: lack of correlation with clinical features. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2007;28(4):693–9 [PubMed:17416823].PubMed
12.
go back to reference Berbari EF, Kanj SS, Kowalski TJ, Darouiche RO, Widmer AF, Schmitt SK, et al. 2015 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of native vertebral osteomyelitis in adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2015;61(6):e26–46. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/civ482 [PubMed:26229122].CrossRefPubMed Berbari EF, Kanj SS, Kowalski TJ, Darouiche RO, Widmer AF, Schmitt SK, et al. 2015 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of native vertebral osteomyelitis in adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2015;61(6):e26–46. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1093/​cid/​civ482 [PubMed:26229122].CrossRefPubMed
13.
go back to reference Veillard E, Guggenbuhl P, Morcet N, Meadeb J, Bello S, Perdriger A, et al. Prompt regression of paravertebral and epidural abscesses in patients with pyogenic discitis. Sixteen cases evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging. Joint Bone Spine. 2000;67(3):219–27 [PubMed:10875322].PubMed Veillard E, Guggenbuhl P, Morcet N, Meadeb J, Bello S, Perdriger A, et al. Prompt regression of paravertebral and epidural abscesses in patients with pyogenic discitis. Sixteen cases evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging. Joint Bone Spine. 2000;67(3):219–27 [PubMed:10875322].PubMed
16.
go back to reference Carragee EJ, Kim D, van der Vlugt T, Vittum D. The clinical use of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997;22(18):2089–93 [PubMed:9322319].CrossRef Carragee EJ, Kim D, van der Vlugt T, Vittum D. The clinical use of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997;22(18):2089–93 [PubMed:9322319].CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Harrison M. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Aust Prescr. 2015;38(3):93–4 [PubMed:26648629].CrossRef Harrison M. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Aust Prescr. 2015;38(3):93–4 [PubMed:26648629].CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Sadato N, Numaguchi Y, Rigamonti D, Kodama T, Nussbaum E, Sato S, et al. Spinal epidural abscess with gadolinium-enhanced MRI: serial follow-up studies and clinical correlations. Neuroradiology. 1994;36(1):44–8 [PubMed:8107997].CrossRef Sadato N, Numaguchi Y, Rigamonti D, Kodama T, Nussbaum E, Sato S, et al. Spinal epidural abscess with gadolinium-enhanced MRI: serial follow-up studies and clinical correlations. Neuroradiology. 1994;36(1):44–8 [PubMed:8107997].CrossRef
Metadata
Title
The correlation between follow-up MRI findings and laboratory results in pyogenic spondylodiscitis
Authors
Kyung-Sik Ahn
Chang Ho Kang
Suk-Joo Hong
Baek Hyun Kim
Euddeum Shim
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03446-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2020 Go to the issue