Asian Spine J.  2008 Jun;2(1):15-21. 10.4184/asj.2008.2.1.15.

Characterization of Magnetic Resonance Images for Spinal Cord Tumors

• Chung JY
• Lee JJ
• Kim HJ
• Seo HY

• KMID: 1721129
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/asj.2008.2.1.15

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study MR images for spinal cord tumors. PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics of MR images for spinal cord tumors, which were then verified at surgery or biopsy. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: MR images are often used as the primary diagnostic imaging tool and the preoperative study of choice. The need for biopsy may be obviated because of increasingly accurate preoperative histologic diagnosis by MR images. METHODS: The study group consisted of 39 patients who had undergone MR imaging for preoperative evaluation of spinal cord tumors between September 1989 and February 2008. All patients had operations for spinal cord tumors, which were confirmed at biopsy. Of the 39 patients, 18 were men, and 21 were women. The average follow-up period was 23.8 months. The mean patient age was 46.6 years. RESULTS: Diagnoses included neurilemmoma (19 cases), neurofibroma (4 cases), meningioma (5 cases), hemangioma (3 cases), giant cell tumor (1 case), ganglioneuroma (1 case), lymphoma (1 case), neuroblastoma (1 case), and metastatic tumor from the prostate (1 case). The remaining 3 cases were composed of arachnoid cysts (2 cases) and a vascular malformation (arteriovenous malformation, 1 case). CONCLUSIONS: MR images are the preoperative modality of choice in the evaluation of spinal cord tumors. MR images can narrow the differential diagnosis and guide surgical resection.

Keyword

Magnetic resonance imaging; Spinal cord; Tumor

MeSH Terms

Arachnoid Cysts
Biopsy
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Imaging
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Ganglioneuroma
Giant Cell Tumors
Hemangioma
Humans
Lymphoma
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Magnetics
Magnets
Male
Meningioma
Neurilemmoma
Neuroblastoma
Neurofibroma
Prostate
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Neoplasms
Vascular Malformations