Thoracic

The image to the right is a MRI image of a thoracic vertebrae compression fracture. Compression fracture of the vertebral body is common, especially in older adults. These fractures are most commonly caused by osteoporosis. More severe compression fractures can cause significant pain, which can lead to the inablity to perform daily activities. Vertebral compression fractures affect approximately 25 percent of all postmenopausal women in the United States. General physicians can help patients prevent compression fractures by diagnosing and treating predisposing factors, identifying high-risk patients, and educating patients about measures to prevent falls.

cervical

To the right is a sagittal MRI image of the cervical spine showing cervical metastasis. Metastais is the spread of a disease-producing agency (such as cancer cells) from its inital or primary site of disease to another part of the body. So this patient could have had a primary cancer site of the lung or brain and the cancer has now spread to the bone in their cervical spine. The white spots or patches on the cervical vertebrae in this MRI image is the diseased portion of the vertebrae.

Neck Lipoma

To the left is a CT axial soft tissue neck image. The large dark oval you see is a lipoma of the neck. Lipomas are benign tumors composed of mature fat cells. They usually develop as discrete rubbery masses in the subcuateous tissues of the trunk and proximal extremity. Lipomas are the most common type of soft tissue tumors. They can usually be removed they surgical excision or liposuction.