Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing: A case report

This report highlights an unusual case of a woman in her 70s who presented with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and an initial symptom of spinal cord compression and associated spinal degeneration. She presented with progressive thoracolumbar pain, bilateral lower limb weakness, and sensory...

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Main Authors: Zhang Jiaqi, Xu Lichen, Xia Dongxue, Tang Wei, Wang Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of International Medical Research
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605251342673
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author Zhang Jiaqi
Xu Lichen
Xia Dongxue
Tang Wei
Wang Wei
author_facet Zhang Jiaqi
Xu Lichen
Xia Dongxue
Tang Wei
Wang Wei
author_sort Zhang Jiaqi
collection DOAJ
description This report highlights an unusual case of a woman in her 70s who presented with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and an initial symptom of spinal cord compression and associated spinal degeneration. She presented with progressive thoracolumbar pain, bilateral lower limb weakness, and sensory deficits. Imaging showed continuous osteophytes in the anterior and lateral spine, multiple levels of intervertebral space narrowing, marked ligament ossification at T10/11, and severe spinal stenosis. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis was diagnosed and spinal cord compression was significantly reduced after laminectomy. Although diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is relatively common in elderly patients, cases of spinal cord compression are still rare, and the combination of intervertebral space stenosis, and ossification of the ligamentum flavum may be misdiagnosed as degenerative spondylopathy. This case suggests the possibility of intervertebral stenosis and ossification of the thoracic ligamentum flavum coexisting with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, highlighting the importance of diagnostic imaging in the early stage of patient management.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1473-2300
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publisher SAGE Publishing
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spelling doaj-art-6443a69d08f142dbafc952cc2f281a092025-08-20T02:05:46ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of International Medical Research1473-23002025-05-015310.1177/03000605251342673Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing: A case reportZhang JiaqiXu LichenXia DongxueTang WeiWang WeiThis report highlights an unusual case of a woman in her 70s who presented with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and an initial symptom of spinal cord compression and associated spinal degeneration. She presented with progressive thoracolumbar pain, bilateral lower limb weakness, and sensory deficits. Imaging showed continuous osteophytes in the anterior and lateral spine, multiple levels of intervertebral space narrowing, marked ligament ossification at T10/11, and severe spinal stenosis. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis was diagnosed and spinal cord compression was significantly reduced after laminectomy. Although diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is relatively common in elderly patients, cases of spinal cord compression are still rare, and the combination of intervertebral space stenosis, and ossification of the ligamentum flavum may be misdiagnosed as degenerative spondylopathy. This case suggests the possibility of intervertebral stenosis and ossification of the thoracic ligamentum flavum coexisting with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, highlighting the importance of diagnostic imaging in the early stage of patient management.https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605251342673
spellingShingle Zhang Jiaqi
Xu Lichen
Xia Dongxue
Tang Wei
Wang Wei
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing: A case report
Journal of International Medical Research
title Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing: A case report
title_full Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing: A case report
title_fullStr Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing: A case report
title_short Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing: A case report
title_sort diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis presenting as spinal cord compression combined with intervertebral space narrowing a case report
url https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605251342673
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AT xiadongxue diffuseidiopathicskeletalhyperostosispresentingasspinalcordcompressioncombinedwithintervertebralspacenarrowingacasereport
AT tangwei diffuseidiopathicskeletalhyperostosispresentingasspinalcordcompressioncombinedwithintervertebralspacenarrowingacasereport
AT wangwei diffuseidiopathicskeletalhyperostosispresentingasspinalcordcompressioncombinedwithintervertebralspacenarrowingacasereport