Osteoid osteoma of the cervical spine. Misleading MR features about a case involving the uncinate process.

ABSTRACT

The authors studied the usefulness of MR imaging in the diagnosis of an osteoid osteoma occurring within the C4 left uncinate process. It was detected by scintigraphy and diagnosed by CT. On T2-weighted MR images the nidus showed a very low signal intensity with an increased signal within the adjacent end-plates. This pattern was misleading and more suggestive of degenerative disk disease.