Purpose:
@EN The purpose of this study was to analyze the MR findings of intramedullary tumors
and review the literatures for evaluating of characteristic findings of each intramedullary
tumors.
@ES Materials & Methods:
@EN We experienced eight intramedullary tumors from March 1993 to February 1995,
including four astrocytomas two ependymoma, one hemangioblastoma, and one cavernome. MR
images were get by 1.5T GE Singna analized retrospectively.
@ES Results:
@EN Intramedullary tumor was demonstrated by MR images in eight patints. They were five
men and three women ranging in age from 3 to 56 years and complained both motor and
sensory changes and symptom duration was between 6 months and 3 years.
Ependymoma showed diffuse homogenous enhancing mass at the level of thoracic cord(T2-3)
and thoracolumbar level(T11-L2) without cystic change, One had hemorrhage within the mass
and massive leptomeningeal metastasis at all spinal cord and brain. Among astrocystomas,
one case at the cervical cord unusually revealed hemorrhage in the mass and regional large
syrinx. The other one occured at the conus medullaris portion and showed well-defined mass
and intratumoral cystic change. We also experienced rare intramedullary hemangioblastoma,
which demonstrated typical signal voided vascular structures revealed homogenous enhancing
mass. A veryrare intramedullary cavernoma at the level of cervical cord showed typical dark
signal hemosiderin rim and variable staged hemorrhage in the mass.
@ES Conclusion:
@EN Although, MR imaging appearance of intramedullary tumors is nonspecific, and it is
often impossible to differentiate with certainty between the various possible tumors, especially
ependymomas and astrocystomas. However, MR findings of hemangioblastoma and cavernoma
are specific and possible to diagnose.
MR imaging is the unquestioned technique of choice in demonstrating and differentiating the
intramedullary tumors.
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