Limbus Vertebra in the Thoracic Spine: A Case Report

Year 2025, Volume: 27 Issue: 2, 230 - 232, 30.08.2025

Rumeysa Samanci , Sarfinaz Ataoğlu

https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1608502

Abstract

The limbus vertebra, first described by Christian Schmorl in 1927, is considered a variant of a normal vertebra in the literature. It is a triangular fragment of bone that separates from the anterosuperior corner of the vertebra and is usually discovered incidentally via X-ray. Typically, it is asymptomatic due to its location. A limbus vertebra can be mistaken for a fracture, discitis, Schmorl's node, or tumor, which may lead to unnecessary surgical intervention. Therefore, it should be included in the differential diagnosis, especially in patients with a history of trauma, when their clinical condition is assessed. Limbus vertebrae most commonly affect the lumbar spine and, less frequently, other regions of the vertebral column. In this case report, an incidental finding of a limbus vertebra in the thoracic spine in a 30-year-old female patient was presented.

Keywords

Limbus Vertebra , Thoracic Vertebra , Incidental Findings

Torasik Omurgada Limbus Vertebra: Bir Vaka Sunumu

Abstract

İlk kez 1927 yılında Christian Schmorl tarafından tanımlanan limbus vertebra, literatürde daha çok normal vertebranın bir varyantı olarak değerlendirilir. Limbus vertebra, omurganın üst uç noktasından ayrılan trianguler kemik parçası olup radyolojik olarak genellikle tesadüfi olarak saptanır. Tipik olarak konumu nedeniyle semptom vermez. Limbus vertebra kırık, diskit, Schmorl nodülü veya tümör ile karıştırılabilir ve bu da gereksiz yere cerrahi müdahalelere sebep olabilir. Bu nedenle, hastaların kliniğini değerlendirirken, özellikle travma öyküsü olan bir hastada, ayırıcı tanıda akılda tutulması gerekir. Limbus vertebra en sık olarak lomber omurgayı ve daha az sıklıkla diğer omurga bölgelerini etkilemektedir. Bu vaka sunumunda, 30 yaşında bir kadın hastada torakal omurgada görülen tesadüfi olarak saptanan bir limbus vertebra sunulmuştur.

Keywords

Limbus Vertebra , Torasik vertebra , Tesadufi bulgular

References

• Keats TE, Anderson MW. Atlas of normal roentgen variants that may simulate disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2012.
• Feldman F. Miscellaneous localized conditions: a whirlwind review of the "Oh My Aching Back" syndrome. Semin Roentgenol. 1979;14(1):58-75.
• Lancaster KT. Defects in the vertebral endplates. Semin Roentgenol. 1988;23(2):89-90.
• Yagan R. CT diagnosis of limbus vertebra. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1984;8(1):149-51.
• Sanal HT, Yilmaz S, Simsek I. Limbus vertebra. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(12):4011.
• Mupparapu M, Vuppalapati A, Mozaffari E. Radiographic diagnosis of limbus vertebra on a lateral cephalometric film: report of a case. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2002;31(5):328-30.
• Henales V, Hervás JA, López P, Martínez JM, Ramos R, Herrera M. Intervertebral disc herniations (limbus vertebrae) in pediatric patients: report of 15 cases. Pediatr Radiol. 1993;23(8):608-10.
• Swischuk LE, John SD, Allbery S. Disk degenerative disease in childhood: Scheuermann's disease, Schmorl's nodes, and the limbus vertebra: MRI findings in 12 patients. Pediatr Radiol. 1998;28(5):334-8.
• Nișcoveanu C, Refi D, Obada B, Dragosloveanu S, Scheau C, Baz RO. Beyond the bony fragment: a review of limbus vertebra. Cureus. 2024;16(5):e60065.
• Wang Y, Videman T, Battié MC. Lumbar vertebral endplate lesions: prevalence, classification, and association with age. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2012;37(17):1432-9.
• Huang PY, Yeh LR, Tzeng WS, Tsai MY, Shih TT, Pan HB, et al. Imaging features of posterior limbus vertebrae. Clin Imaging. 2012;36(6):797-802.
• Yen Y, Wu FZ. Giant limbus vertebra mimicking a vertebral fracture. QJM. 2014;107(11):937-8.
• Pothiawala S, Charles R. Incidental diagnosis of limbus vertebra in a patient with sciatica: a case report. J Surg Trauma. 2023;11(1):45-8.