Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scans of Cervical Spinal Cord Ependymoma with Changing Radiological Features over a Short Period of Time

Abstract

In a 30-year-old woman with cervical ependymoma, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features changed over a short period of time. A T2-weighted MRI scan obtained 1 month before surgery showed an intramedullary tumor with mixed intensity suggesting solid and cystic components at the C4-7 level. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI showed ring enhancement, including a cystic component at the C4-7 level. However, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography revealed uptake at the C5 level, and another gadolinium-enhanced MRI scan performed 24 days after the previous scan showed only enhanced lesions corresponding to the solid component at the C5-6 level. These images changed over a short time because the spontaneous hematoma, which was enhanced on the first MRI scan, had disappeared later. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography or repeated gadolinium-enhanced MRI may be useful if the initial MRI scan suggests the presence of a hematoma in spinal ependymoma.