Structural Thoracic Kyphosis in an Adolescent : CT Findings Consistent with Scheuermann disease

Authors

Alia Yassine Kassab, Lina Lasri, Mehdi Salmane, Sarah Loubaris, Fatima Zohra Benbrahim, Lina Belkouchi, Siham El Haddad, Nazik Allali, Latifa Chat

Journal Information

Journal: Medpeer Publisher

ISSN: 3066-2737

Volume: 3

Issue: 3

Date of Publication: 2026/03/05

DOI: 10.70780/medpeer.000QGRO

Abstract

Scheuermann disease is the most common cause of structural thoracic hyperkyphosis in adolescents. It is characterized by anterior vertebral body wedging, irregular vertebral endplates, and ring apophysis abnormalities. Imaging plays a key role in confirming the diagnosis and assessing severity, particularly in the preoperative setting.
We report the case of a 16-year-old adolescent referred for preoperative evaluation of progressive thoracic hyperkyphosis. Computed tomography of the thoracolumbar spine demonstrated multilevel anterior vertebral wedging from D7 to L1, irregular endplates, and anterior ring apophysis fragmentation without evidence of acute fracture or disc space narrowing.
These findings were consistent with structural kyphosis secondary to Scheuermann disease and illustrate the characteristic CT features useful for surgical planning.

Keywords

Scheuermann disease, Thoracic juvenile hyperkyphosis, Vertebral wedging, Ring apophysis