In a patient with back pain and fever, this fat suppressed T2-weighted MRI would suggest:

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It is important to start from the relevant clinical data, which is why such data must be included on imaging orders. Diskitis/osteomyelitis is correct because of the high signal in the anterior half of the affected disk, the adjacent bone marrow edema, and the hyperintense tissue along the anterior margin of the spine. Degenerative disk disease does not cause fever and does not involve a hyperintense disk or hyperintense tissue anterior to the spine. Metastatic disease does not usually present with fever. Spondylolysis does not present with fever and is not associated with bone marrow edema in vertebrae.

In a Patient with Back Pain and Fever, This Fat