At SRK Scan Centre, we recently encountered an interesting case that highlights how advanced imaging helps unravel the cause of persistent back pain.

An obese female patient presented with chronic low back ache. On CT scan, 3D reconstruction revealed cramping and close contact of the spinous processes from L3 to L5. Notably, the L4 and L5 spinous processes were touching each other with mild sclerosis at the margins — a classic finding of Baastrup’s disease, also known as “Kissing Spine Syndrome.”

This condition occurs when adjacent spinous processes repeatedly come into contact due to degenerative changes and altered spinal mechanics, leading to pain, sclerosis, and sometimes inflammation of the interspinous ligament. It is more common in older or obese individuals, and often underdiagnosed without cross-sectional imaging.

Key takeaway – Persistent back pain is not always due to disc or nerve issues — sometimes the “spines themselves kiss a little too close.” CT imaging plays a crucial role in detecting such subtle yet clinically significant abnormalities.