MRI, CT, and plain film appearance of anterior spina bifida

Butterfly Vertebra

“…In addition, the intervertebral disc of the butterfly vertebra may have density irregularities continuous with discs above and below the anomalous vertebral body. MRI shows this continuity on sagittal imaging [4,10] (see Fig 2B). However, a sagittal cut through the cleft of the vertebral body may appear as though the patient has lost this bony structure to metastatic disease or gives the impression of a vertebral body pathological wedge fracture [3] (see Fig 2A).…”

“…These somites give rise to the membranous vertebral bodies that surround the notochord. In these developing vertebral bodies, chondrification centers form [2,4]. Under normal circumstances, two laterally located chondrification centers fuse to form one vertebral body [8].…”

“…(Hematoxylin & eosin, x 400 before 10% reduction.) granules and the absence of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) [1, 3,4] . Pathological examination of the present tumor revealed these distinguishing features, thereby allowing the correct diagnosis to be made.…”

“…In conclusion, there do not appear to be any imaging features that can reliably distinguish between ependymoma and paraganglioma. A paraganglioma should always be included in the differential diagnosis of a cauda equina lesion since it is a distinct entity that carries an even better prognos is than an ependymoma [I , 3, 15 , and anterior spina bifida [4]. Often asymptomatic, this congenital anomaly is sometimes associated with other congenital abnormalities.…”

“…It is characterized histopathologically by a proliferation of mature plasma cells, reticuloendothelial cells, fibroblasts, and other stromal elements [I]. It occurs most often in parenchymal lung tissue and conducting airways [1-3], but has also been reported in numerous other organs, including the brain [4][5][6][7][8].…”