RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Contrast Enhancement in Spinal MR Imaging
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 633
OP 637
VO 10
IS 3
A1 Robert K. Breger
A1 Alan L. Williams
A1 David L. Daniels
A1 Leo F. Czervionke
A1 Leighton P. Mark
A1 Victor M. Haughton
A1 Rose Anne Papke
A1 Mary Coffer
YR 1989
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/10/3/633.abstract
AB We evaluated 44 patients with suspected spinal tumors or previous laminectomies with gadolinium-DTPA MR imaging in order to characterize the enhancement in normal, postoperative, and neoplastic intraspinal tissue. Using the signal intensity of CSF as an internal control, we calculated the percentage increase in signal intensity from pre- to postgadolinium studies. Tumors (astrocytoma, ependymoma, schwannoma) enhanced 70-350%; epidural scar, normal epidural venous plexus, and dorsal root ganglion enhanced up to 200%. Contrast enhancement does not per se distinguish neoplastic from normal tissue. Enhancement with gadolinium-DTPA appeared to increase the conspicuousness of intramedullary tumors but not intraosseous metastases. We believe that gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging is a valuable adjunct to routine MR imaging in the evaluation of intraspinal neoplastic processes and may be useful in delineating normal and postoperative structures in the spinal canal.