T-spine - Normal paravertebral line - AP

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T-spine - Normal paravertebral line - AP

  • The thoracic spine vertebral bodies gradually increase in size from superior to inferior
  • Note the normal paravertebral line and descending aorta
  • Occasionally widening of the paravertebral line indicates a haematoma due to a spinal fracture

T-spine - Paravertebral haematoma - AP

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T-spine - Paravertebral haematoma - AP

  • In this case there is marked widening of the mediastinum due to haematoma formation
  • There is loss of clarity of the cortical outline of the vertebral bodies indicating fractures - much more easily seen on the CT study (see below)

T-spine - Paravertebral haematoma - CT

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T-spine - Paravertebral haematoma - CT

  • (Same patient as image above)
  • This coronal plane image of the thoracic spine shows grossly comminuted fractures and a very large paravertebral haematoma

Page author: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust UK (Read bio)

Last reviewed: November 2018