Spinal cystic schwannoma: an MRI evaluation.
Spinal cystic schwannomas are a very rare entity and have been reported in only a few case reports in literature; its diagnosis and management has remained a challenge. This study reviewed the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 12 patients (7 men and 5 women; aged 37 - 67 years; mean age: 52.75 years) with pathologically proven cystic schwannoma of the spine and discussed their differential diagnosis. All patients underwent surgery at our institutions between June 2000 and April 2012. MRI showed well-delineated intradural and extramedullary lesion of iso- to low signal intensity on T1 weighted images, high signal intensity on T2 weighted images, and rim enhancement on contrast-enhanced images. A precise understanding of the MRI features of spinal schwannomas, especially the typical characteristic of enhancement, may help clinicians in their pre-operative diagnoses and surgical planning.
Department of Radiology, First Affliliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaaxi-China.
Rana
R
Netra
Department of Radiology, First Affliliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaaxi-China.
Ma Shao
MS
Hui
Department of Radiology, First Affliliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaaxi-China.
Min Zhi
MZ
Gang
Department of Radiology, First Affliliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaaxi-China.
Zhang
Z
Ming
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis