Spinal 'flip-flop' effect in anorexia nervosa: A case report.

Authors :: Varotto A
Vitale V
Mansour M
Di Pascoli L
Iannucci G
Source :: Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology [J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol] 2020 Aug; Vol. 64 (4), pp. 534-536. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Feb 09.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric eating disorder related to malnutrition and consequent altered metabolism. A 48-year-old female with a history of anorexia in the last 2 years referred to our hospital with spinal pain. She underwent spinal X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showing multiple vertebral collapses in dorsal and lumbar spine with inversion of normal bone marrow and soft tissue signal in T1-weighted and STIR images. We describe this case of spinal 'flip-flop' phenomenon, underlining how what seems a technical failure is actually a specific imaging pattern related to the clinical context.<br /> (© 2020 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.)