MRI diagnosis of embryonal tumors in the spinal canal: analysis of 6 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features characterizing embryonal tumors in the spinal canal.


METHODS
Retrospective analyses of the MR images were conducted in 6 patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed embryonal tumors in the spinal canal.


RESULTS
Epidermoid cysts in 3 cases displayed a variety of non-characteristic signal intensity patterns on T1- and T2-weighted images (T1WI and T2WI). Lipomas in 2 cases showed high signal intensity on T1WI and attenuated to intermediate signal intensity on T2WI. An intramedullary neurenteric cyst in 1 case was illustrated as low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI.


CONCLUSIONS
The MRI presentation of embryonal tumors in the spinal canal with the exception of lipomas is devoid of typical features, and their MRI diagnosis should be complemented by history of developmental anomaly and pathological and etiological findings.
Lin
Yue-Zeng
YZ
Imaging Diagnostic Center, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. linyz@fimmu.com
Zhang
Xue-Lin
XL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013115:Spinal Canal