What causes butterfly vertebra in the spine on anteroposterior radiograph?
Let me know in the comments.
Click to reveal the answer
Butterfly vertebra is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by a midline sagittal cleft in the vertebral body, resulting from failure of fusion of the lateral halves during embryonic development, typically between the third and sixth weeks of gestation; it is usually asymptomatic but may be associated with spinal deformities or syndromic conditions and is most common in the thoracic or lumbar spine.
Why is it called so?
The name derives from the characteristic butterfly-like configuration of the vertebral body on anteroposterior radiograph, where the two symmetrical lateral halves resemble open butterfly wings separated by a central cleft.
Pathophysiology:
The vertebral body forms from fusion of bilateral sclerotomes derived from somites; failure of midline fusion leaves a persistent sagittal cleft often filled with fibrous, cartilaginous, or notochordal tissue, leading to sclerotic lateral margins and a funnel-shaped appearance with wedge deformity on lateral view.
Alternative names: Sagittal cleft vertebra
References
Access all radiology signs posted so far: https://radiogyan.com/radiology-signs/
Improve Content And Help Your Colleagues!
Found an error in the post? Please let us know using our contact page and we will update it with due credits!
If you wish to contribute radiological images for this case (or any other article on the website), you can submit them here and you will be duly credited: Submit radiology case