spinal block LSBU

Description: Radiology cases 321-328. Clinical presentation: Acute onset of back pain and leg weakness in a 55 year old man.
The upper cuts, above the carina and aotic arch, in this computed tomography series show contrast in the theca ending at an obstructing soft-tissue mass in the canal. The relative lucency of the cord is unexpanded and undisplaced by the mass. There is destruction of the lower third of the affected upper thoracic vertebra with sparing of the ribs, but extending into, and partially replacing, the transverse processes. This process is in the region of the destroyed pedicles, the most vascular part of the bone. There is neighbouring left paraspinal lymphadenopathy and probably hemiazygous veins. No lung abnormality is visible in the axial cuts near the lung apices nor in the scout view.