What are the radiological and clinical features of Pott disease (spinal tuberculosis), and how does it differ from other causes of vertebral collapse?

Pott disease causes gradual collapse of one or more vertebral bodies, often sparing the intervertebral discs, leading to a characteristic gibbus deformity and acute kyphosis. Infection typically spreads beneath the anterior longitudinal ligament and can result in paravertebral abscesses, potentially causing spinal cord compression. Key diagnostic features include vertebral body destruction with relative disc preservation and the presence of cold abscesses. Common mimickers include metastatic disease and pyogenic spondylitis, which usually involve the discs more prominently.