title: Differentiation of spinal schwannomas and myxopapillary ependymomas: MR imaging and pathologic features.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging and pathologic features of spinal schwannomas (SCHs) and myxopapillary ependymomas (MPEs) with focus on differentiating 2 disease entities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Few studies have reported on the differentiation of SCHs and MPEs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients were retrospectively reviewed with histologically confirmed spinal SCHs (41 patients) or MPEs (12 patients) of the cauda equina and/or conus medullaris. We evaluated neurological deterioration after surgery in association with the intraoperative findings of the tumor, as well as with the preoperative magnetic resonance images and postoperative histologic findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the SCH group had a greater mean age at surgery and a greater mean disease duration. In the SCH group, all 24 tumors that were homogeneously hyperintense on the T2-weighted (T2W) images showed rim enhancement on the postcontrast T1-weighted (T1W) images. Moreover, all 14 of the SCHs with homogeneous enhancement on the postcontrast T1W images were isointense on the T2W images. However, in the MPE group, all 8 of the tumors that were homogeneously hyperintense on T2W images showed homogeneous enhancement on their postcontrast T1W images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is very important to differentiate SCHs and MPEs before surgery, because there are reported cases of dissemination of MPEs through cerebrospinal fluid throughout the neuraxis; the tumor must be removed en block to prevent this. Although MPEs and SCHs may have similar imaging characteristics, detailed examination of the magnetic resonance T2W image and postcontrast T1W image facilitates their differentiation.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya †Department of Restorative Medicine, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi ‡Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hamamatsu Medical University, Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imagama
authors.forename: Zenya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tauchi
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muramoto
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult