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Imaging studies for Case 1. (a) Preoperative lumbar spine MRI showing sagittal T2-weighted image. Destruction of the L4 vertebral body and an abscess are evident. (b) Postoperative lumbar spine MRI showing sagittal T2-weighted image. Normalization of signal intensity in vertebral bodies and disappearance of abscess are observed. (c) Postoperative CT showing callus formation bridging the vertebral bodies around the L4/5 intervertebral region.
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On MRI, an abscess with high signal intensity in the L4/5 intervertebral region was seen on T2-weighted images (Figure 1(a)), while the L4 and L5 vertebral bodies as a whole showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images. At 12 months, plain radiography and CT showed bridging callus between the vertebral bodies (Figure 1(b)). MRI revealed normalization of signal intensity in the vertebral bodies and resolution of abscesses (Figure 1(c)).
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