McCune-Albright Syndrome with Pathologic Compression Fracture of the Vertebrae: Report of a Case with Imaging Manifestations

We describe an 18 year-old man with unusually extensive polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, which associated with scoliosis of the thoracic spine and pathologic compression fractures of T8-9, L1, and L3. Because of extensive involvement of the spine, thoracic costae, left pelvic bones and femur as well as endocrine dysfunction and skin pigmentation, he was admitted for surgery. Plain radiographs and computed tomographic scans showed expansile osteolytic lesions of the bilateral thoracic costae. These lesions presented with intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images, hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, and faint enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images. These clinical and imaging findings may be useful in the diagnosis of McCune-Albright syndrome.