Magnetic resonance imaging of spinal tumors. A study using a 0.3 T vertical magnetic field

A total of 168 patients with spinal tumors were evaluated with MRI. The study shows that MRI is a sensitive method for demonstration of spinal tumors. MRI also provides a possibility to separate different histological types of tumors based on their morphology and signal characteristics. Intramedullary tumors (25 cases): Ependymomas (6 cases) and astrocytomas (7 cases) were most common. Ependymomas have a more irregular signal pattern than astrocytomas. Astrocytomas are more common in the upper spine and are more often completely cystic. Contrast enhancement is important for separation of cyst, edema and solid tumor. Intradural extramedullary tumors (31 cases): Neuromas (14 cases) and meningeomas (11 cases) were most common. Neuromas always had markedly increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Meningeomas were only hyperintense occasionally. Neuromas were more inhomogeneous than meningeomas on T1-weighted images. Contrast enhancement is valuable for delineation of small tumors. Extradural tumors (91 cases): 76 patients had metastases, 7 primary spinal tumors and 8 multiple myelomas. T1-weighted images are almost always superior to other sequences because tumor invasion in the fatty bone marrow is seen as a low signal area in contrast to the high signal from the fat. Spinal lymphomas (14 cases): May be divided into vertebral, paraspinal and epidural tumors. Most cases have all locations. Spinal neurofibromatosis (7 cases): Most patients had multiple, often bilateral neurofibromas. One patient had a meningeomas on one spinal dysplasia with meningoceles. MRI is superior to other modalities for evaluation of the full extent of the disease. The coronal view is often valuable because of the arrangement of the tumors. In addition to providing diagnosis, MRI is of great value in treatment follow-up