PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J. S. Lapointe
AU  - D. A. Graeb
AU  - R. A. Nugent
AU  - W. D. Robertson
TI  - Value of Intravenous Contrast Enhancement in the CT Evaluation of Intraspinal Tumors
DP  - 1985 Nov 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 939--943
VI  - 6
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/6/6/939.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/6/6/939.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1985 Nov 01; 6
AB  - The usefulness of intravenous contrast-enhanced CT in delineating intraspinal cord tumors has not been well documented. To determine if intradural spinal tumors enhance, if the location and type of tumor can be determined, and if a double dose of contrast material provides more information than a single dose, a retrospective study of 23 patients with proven intradural extramedullary or intramedullary tumors was performed. All the tumors studied with CT after intravenous contrast enhancement showed that most lesions (18/23) enhanced, contrary to published reports. Contrast-enhanced studies delineated the extent of the tumor, helping to separate solid and cystic components. The enhancement pattern of ependymomas and astrocytomas was similar, while schwannomas had a characteristic appearance. A double dose of intravenous contrast material had no apparent advantage over a single dose.