Diagnostic significance of computed tomography for spinal tumor

Four cases of primary or metastatic tumor were reported. CT was more useful to show changes in the arch and body of the vertebrae, conditions of the spinal canal and the extension of the tumors than conventional roentgenography. CT could visualize the extent of the tumors into the arch and body of the vertebrae and the surrounding tissues in detail with changing window level and window width. There was one case in which infiltration of the tumor into spinal canal was visualized. These suggest that CT scanner is useful to know prognosis and conditions of patients. Sometimes, it was difficult to differenciate a spinal dum-bell-shaped tumor with spinal erosion from a spinal tumor. (Tsunoda, M.)