Archives of the AFIP -- RadioGraphics

Figure 12: Chordoma of the lumbar spine in a 13-year-old boy with a 1-year history of intermittent low back pain. Panel A Lateral radiograph shows a dense vertebral body (arrows) at L-3. Panel B Sagittal reconstructed CT scan obtained after initial open biopsy reveals not only the L-3 sclerosis but also similar findings in the superior aspect of L-4 (arrowheads). (C and D) Sagittal T1-weighted Panel C and T2-weighted Panel D MR images better delineate the marrow involvement at L-3 and L-4 with extension through the disk (arrows). The mass has marked high signal intensity on d. Panel E Photograph of a sagittally sectioned gross specimen depicts the extent of the neoplasm, with diffuse involvement of L-3 (arrowheads), the adjacent disk (*), and the superior aspect of L-4 (arrows).

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