casos clínicos

Case 10.1: A young adult with neck pain, numbness, and a weak right arm.

10.1 A

Precontrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI of the cervical spine

10.1 B

Post contrast (C+) sagittal T1 wtd. MRI

10.1 C

Sagittal T2 wtd. MRI

10.1 D

Axial T1 wtd. MRI (C+)

DIAGNOSIS PLEASE …

Case 10.2: A middle-aged male with gradual weakness of both arms.

10.2 A


10.2 C


10.2 B

Sagittal T2 wtd. MR image of the C-spine


Name 2 common intramedullary tumors involving the spinal cord.

A. ? B. ?

Name 2 common intramedullary tumors involving the spinal cord.

A. Astrocytoma B. Ependymoma

Case 10.3: A 50-year-old patient with renal cell carcinoma with back pain and leg weakness.

10.3 ASagittal T1 wtd. MRI

of the lumbar spine

10.3 BPost contrast (C+) sagittal T1 wtd. MRI

10.3 CSagittal T2 wtd. MRI


10.3 DAxial T1 wtd. MRI (C+)

Case 10.4: A 55-year-old lady with gradual lower extremity weakness.

10.4 APost contrast (Ct) sagittal T1 wtd. MRI


10.4 BSagittal T2 wtd. MRI of thoracic spine

10.4 CPrecontrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI

10.4 DAxial CT image of the thoracic spine

Case 10.5: A 24-year-old male with neck pain and right arm weakness.

10.5 APrecontrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI of C-

spine



10.5 CPrecontrast axial T1

wtd. MRI

10.5 DAxial T1 wtd. MRI

(C+)

Name 2 common intradural tumors within the spinal canal:

A. ?

B. ?

Name 2 common intradural tumors within the spinal canal:

A. Nerve sheath tumors (schwannoma, neurofibroma)

B. Meningioma

Case 10.6: A 42-year-old patient, developed acute bilateral paraparesis following placement of an epidural catheter for drug delivery to relive constant severe back pain.

10.6 APost contrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI of

the thoracic spine


10.6 BPost contrast Axial T1 wtd. MRI

Case 10.7: A 68 yr. Old male with renal cell carcinoma with progressive difficulty in walking and weakness involving both legs.

10.7 APre-contrast sagittal T1 wtd.

MRI of the thoracic spine


10.7 BSagittal T2 wtd. MRI

10.7 CPost contrast sagittal T1 wtd.

MRI

10.7 DPre contrast axial T1 wtd. MRI

Answers

Case 10.1: A young adult with neck pain, numbness, and a weak right arm.

A. B. C.

D.

Findings: : An inhomogeneously enhancing tumor (red arrow in B) is seen within the upper cervical cord. Large cysts (C) are seen both above and below the tumor, best seen on T2 wtd. image C. Eccentric location of the tumor, more to the right of the cervical cord (yellow arrow) is shown on axial image D.

Diagnosis: Astrocytoma

C

C

Astrocytoma of the Spinal Cord

Incidence: Common intramedullary tumor particularly in children and young adults.

Pathology: Usually low grade

MRI Findings:

Eccentric location of tumor within the spinal cord

Multisegmental involvement

Variable degree of tumoral enhancement

Cysts are common

Hemorrhage is rare

Treatment:

Complete resection of tumor is not possible due to infiltrative nature.

Radiation therapy is also used for recurrence or growing tumors.

Case 10.2: A middle-aged male with gradual weakness of both arms.

10.2 A


10.2 C


10.2 B

Sagittal T2 wtd. MR image of the C-spine

Findings: : A sausage-shaped intensely enhancing tumor (yellow arrow in A) is seen within the upper cervical cord extending from just above the cranio-cervical junction with involvement of the dorsal medulla (black arrow in A) down to C5 level. Small amount of old blood is better seen on T2 wtd.

image as an area of dark signal intensity within the tip of the tumor (white arrow in B). Central location of tumor (yellow arrows in C) is better appreciated on axial post contrast image.

Diagnosis: Ependymoma

Ependymoma of the Spinal Cord

Incidence: Common intramedullary tumor in adults

Pathology: Cellular tumors that originate from ependymal cells lining the central canal.

Clinical Symptoms: Nuchal pain/radicular pain, Paresthesia, Motor weakness

MRI Findings: Moderate to markedly enhancing tumor, Blood products from hemorrhage within the tumor is common, Tumor can also contain intrinsic cysts.

Treatment: Surgery. Ependymoma have a well-defined cleavage plane between the tumor and adjacent spinal cord. Thus, the tumor can be completely resected with modern neurosurgical techniques with relief of clinical symptomatology. Recurrence is rare following complete resection.

Case 10.3: A 50-year-old patient with renal cell carcinoma with back pain and leg weakness.

10.3 ASagittal T1 wtd. MRI

of the lumbar spine


10.3 CSagittal T2 wtd. MRI

10.3 DAxial T1 wtd. MRI (C+)

Findings: : Bony metastasis (yellow arrow in A, B, C) is seen involving the T12 vertebral body. Intramedullary location of metastasis within the distal

thoracic cord, is verified on post contrast sagittal image (red arrow in B) and axial image (red arrow in D). Edema (green arrow in C) within the thoracic cord is best shown on T2 wtd. image C.

Diagnosis: Bony Metastasis and metastasis to the Spinal Cord

Metastasis to the Spinal Cord

Incidence: Rare

Primary Sites:

•Lung

•Breast

•Melanoma

•Kidney

•Lymphoma/Leukemia

Intracerebral Tumors:

•Medulloblastoma

•Ependymoma

•Glioblastoma

•Germ Cell Tumor

Route of Spread: Arterial seeding, Batson’s venous plexus, Drop metastasis (from intracerebral tumor)

Case 10.4: A 55-year-old lady with gradual lower extremity weakness.

10.4 APost contrast (C+) sagittal T1 wtd. MRI

10.4 BSagittal T2 wtd. MRI of thoracic spine

10.4 CPrecontrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI

10.4 DAxial CT image of the thoracic spine

Findings: : An intradural enhancing meningioma (arrow in A), the ventrally located tumor has produced cord compression and with displacement of the thoracic cord (red arrow in D) to the right side. Calcified nature of the tumor is identified on sagittal T2 wtd. image as an area of dark signal intensity

(yellow arrow in B) and confirmed by CT imaging (yellow arrow in D) as an area of high attenuation density.

Diagnosis: Classic example of calcified intradural meningioma

Intraspinal Meningioma

Incidence:

• Second common intradural tumor

• Middle-aged females (80%)

• Thoracic spine (80%), cervical spine (15%)

MRI Findings:

• Intensely enhancing intradural tumor

• Calcification, when seen, clinches the diagnosis

Treatment:

• Surgery

Case 10.5: A 24-year-old male with neck pain and right arm weakness.

10.5 APrecontrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI of

C.spine


10.5 CPrecontrast axial T1

wtd. MRI

10.5 DAxial T1 wtd. MRI

(C+)

Findings: An enhancing intradural nerve sheath tumor (Schwannoma) is shown (red arrow in B and D). Dumbbell shape of tumor with intraspinal component (red arrow in D) producing cord compression (yellow arrow in D) and paraspinal tumor extension through an enlarged neural foramen (green arrow in C & D) following the exiting nerve root is best shown on axial post contrast image D.

Diagnosis: Schwannoma arising from the spinal nerve root

Intraspinal Nerve Sheath Tumors

Incidence: Most common intradural tumor

• Solitary nerve sheath tumor is usually Schwannoma and commonly seen in adults.

• Multiple nerve sheath tumors are usually neurofibromas and commonly seen in the pediatric age group with neurofibromatosis

MRI Findings:

• Dumbbell shaped enhancing intradural tumor with paraspinal extension through enlarged neural foramen is a characteristic feature of nerve sheath tumor.

• Can cause cord compression.

Treatment: Surgrey

Case 10.6: A 42-year-old patient, developed acute bilateral paraparesis following placement of an epidural catheter for drug delivery to relive constant severe back pain.

10.6 APost contrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI of

the thoracic spine

10.6 BPost contrast Axial T1 wtd. MRI

Findings: The central portion of the midthoracic cord is compressed and displaced anteriorly (red arrows in A outline the thoracic cord both above and below the level of cord compression) by an epidural abscess (yellow arrows in A, B). The capsule of the abscess enhances intensely with central low signal intensity produced by pus. Figure B demonstrates ventrally displaced thoracic cord (red arrow) by dorsally located epidural abscess (yellow arrows).

Diagnosis: Epidural abscess

Treatment: Surgical drainage and antibiotics.

Case 10.7: A 68 yr. Old male with renal cell carcinoma with progressive difficulty in walking and weakness involving both legs.

10.7 APre-contrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI

of the thoracic spine

10.7 BSagittal T2 wtd.

MRI

10.7 CPost contrast sagittal T1 wtd. MRI

10.7 DPre contrast axial T1 wtd. MRI

Findings: Bony metastasis involving the T8 vertebral body, right pedicle/transverse process and spinous process (arrow in A,B,C,D) with epidural tumor producing marked degree of cord compression (red arrow).

Diagnosis: Bony metastasis from renal cell carcinoma with epidural tumor producing cord compression

casos clínicos

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