====== Destructive lesions of the spine ======

===== Etiologies =====

1. neoplastic; see Differential diagnosis: spine & [[spinal cord tumor]]s for more:

a) metastatic tumors with a predilection for bone:prostate,breast,renal cell,lymphoma,thy-
roid, lung...; see [[Spinal epidural metastases]].

b) primary bone tumors:[[chordoma]]s,osteoid osteoma,[[hemangioma]]

2. infection:

a) vertebral osteomyelitis: occurs mostly in IV drug abusers,patients with diabetes mellitus, and
hemodialysis patients. May have associated spinal epidural abscess. Also see [[Vertebral osteomyelitis]] 

b) [[Discitis]]

3. [[chronic renal failure]]: some patients develop a destructive spondyloarthropathy that resembles infection11,12

4. [[ankylosing spondylitis]]: bamboo spine (square VBs with bridging syndesmophytes)

5. lesions producing posterior scalloping of VB (mnemonic: AMEN)

A [[acromegaly]] or [[achondroplasia]]

M Marfan syndrome or mucopolysaccharidosis 

E Ehlers-Danlos

N neurofibromatosis

also: [[dural ectasia]]

6. lesions producing anterior scalloping of VB

a) aortic aneurysm

b) lymphoma

c) spinal TB