Magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord tumor.

概要

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Seven patients treated surgically with spinal cord tumor were examined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Of the seven patients, four turned out to be neurinomas, one meningioma, one ependymoma and one lipoma. We tried to compare the MRI findings with the operative findings. The involved level of the tumors in spine, their expanse and the size were similar to the operative findings. The extradural tumor had a low intensity band between the tumor and the spinal cord. In the extradural tumor the direction the tapering of the cerebro-spinal fluid at the level of the tumor in the spine tended to be medial. These two findings were useful to discriminate between the extradural and intradural tumors. We could not discriminate between the intramedullary tumor and extramedullary tumor, because the present MRI apparatus had low resolution and thick slice. The examination by MRI is non-invasive and can be done as an outpatient. The examination by MRI is useful not only for close examination, but also as a screening examination.