The limitations of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of pathologic vertebral fractures.

Magnetic resonance imaging has been increasingly used in recent years to screen patients with suspected spinal metastases. The authors present four cases, all of whom were elderly patients with vertebral compression fractures, who were diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging to have probable neoplastic involvement. In each case, vertebral body biopsies indicated a benign pathology. The authors discuss the diagnostic criteria of magnetic resonance imaging of spinal metastases and the limitations of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of pathologic vertebral fractures.