title: Early diagnosis of spinal-epidural metastasis by magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Sixteen patients with various types of cancer who developed pain along the axial spine were prospectively studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The studies were performed with a Fonar Beta-3000 (Fonar Co., Melville, NY) permanent magnet operating at 0.3 Tesla (T). Detailed neurologic examinations were followed by bone x-rays, bone scans, and MRI. In 12 patients there were focal neurologic findings. Bone x-rays and bone scans were diagnostic for metastatic disease in 10 cases; MRIs were consistent with metastatic spinal-epidural disease in all 16 patients. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bone involvement in three patients whose x-rays and bone scans were both negative indicating a higher degree of sensitivity. In six patients thecal compression was obvious on MRI; in three of these previous myelograms had been interpreted as negative. These early results suggest that MRI can serve as a useful tool for diagnosing early spinal-epidural metastases.
mesh_terms: D004824:Epidural Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary