Persistent notochordal canal imitating compression fracture--plain film, CT and MR appearance.

BACKGROUND

Persistent notochordal canal is a rare developmental anomaly, typically restricted to 1 or 2 vertebral levels, and only in exceptional cases extending over a longer segment. It is usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally.

CASE REPORT

A 30-year-old woman reported to our department for control lumbar spine plain films. About 2 years before, after minor trauma, she had been misdiagnosed on radiograms in another hospital as having a compression L5 vertebra fracture. The assessment of current plain films and analysis of previous radiograms delivered indicated the need for taking a developmental anomaly into consideration. Based on CT and MR of lumbar spine performed, a final diagnosis of a persistent notochordal canal was established.

CONCLUSIONS

In spite of its rare occurrence, the characteristic features of a persistent notochordal canal should be known by radiologists, particularly to avoid misinterpretation in post-traumatic patients.