title: Characterization of magnetic resonance images for spinal cord tumors.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective study MR images for spinal cord tumors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the characteristics of MR images for spinal cord tumors, which were then verified at surgery or biopsy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  MR images are often used as the primary diagnostic imaging tool and the preoperative study of choice. The need for biopsy may be obviated because of increasingly accurate preoperative histologic diagnosis by MR images.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 39 patients who had undergone MR imaging for preoperative evaluation of spinal cord tumors between September 1989 and February 2008. All patients had operations for spinal cord tumors, which were confirmed at biopsy. Of the 39 patients, 18 were men, and 21 were women. The average follow-up period was 23.8 months. The mean patient age was 46.6 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diagnoses included neurilemmoma (19 cases), neurofibroma (4 cases), meningioma (5 cases), hemangioma (3 cases), giant cell tumor (1 case), ganglioneuroma (1 case), lymphoma (1 case), neuroblastoma (1 case), and metastatic tumor from the prostate (1 case). The remaining 3 cases were composed of arachnoid cysts (2 cases) and a vascular malformation (arteriovenous malformation, 1 case).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR images are the preoperative modality of choice in the evaluation of spinal cord tumors. MR images can narrow the differential diagnosis and guide surgical resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jae Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Seo
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