Role of MRI in evaluation of intraspinal tumors

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the importance of MRI as a noninvasive diagnostic tool in patients with spinal tumors and to correlate the MRI findings with the patients' neurological outcome.BackgroundRadiographic evaluation is crucial in patients with spinal tumor. A correct investigation can establish the diagnosis and early surgery gives a better chance for full recovery. MRI became the gold standard for imaging neurological tissues including the spinal cord. MRI serves as a problem-solving technique to assess the cause of neurological deficits.Materials and methodsThis prospective study included 50 patients with neurological deficit. The following MR sequences were performed to all patients: sagittal T1WIs and T2WIs, axial T1WIs and T2WIs, axial T1WI, and sagittal T1WI after contrast injection. Data of spinal symptoms were collected, analyzed, and correlated with findings on neurological examination.ResultsThe total number of patients was 50 and male-to-female ratio was 32 : 18; the age ranged between 3 and 75 years. Lumbar spine was the commonest site of injury (40%). The commonest type of spinal tumors was metastasis (42%). Vertebral bone involvement was in more than half of the patient (54%). Most of the tumors show hypointense signal on T1WI (70%), hyperintense signal on T2WI (86%), and postcontrast homogeneous enhancement (60%).ConclusionMRI is strongly recommended for accurate diagnosis of spinal tumors because of its many advantages such as higher contrast resolution, absence of bony artifacts, and multiplanar capability. More information about neural and extraneural lesions can be obtained.