Title:Differentiation Between Osteoporotic and Neoplastic Vertebral Fractures: State of The Art and Future Perspectives
Volume: 18
Author(s): Paula Musa Aguiar, Paola Zarantonello and Maria Pilar Aparisi Gómez*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, Auckland City Hospital; 2 Park Road, Grafton, 1023 Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Vithas Nueve de Octubre; Calle Valle de la Ballestera, 59, 46015
Valencia, Spain
Keywords:
Osteoporosis, vertebral fracture, MRI, CT, radiographs, neoplastic, DXA, imaging.
Abstract: Vertebral fractures are a common condition occurring in the context of osteoporosis and
malignancy. These entities affect a group of patients in the same age range; clinical features may
be indistinct and symptoms non-existing, and thus present challenges to diagnosis. In this article,
we review the use and accuracy of different imaging modalities available to characterize vertebral
fracture etiology, from well-established classical techniques to the role of new and advanced imaging
techniques and the prospective use of artificial intelligence. We also address the role of imaging
in treatment. In the context of osteoporosis, the importance of opportunistic diagnosis is highlighted.
In the near future, the use of automated computer-aided diagnostic algorithms applied to
different imaging techniques may be really useful to aid in diagnosis.
