Spinal cystic tumor [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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=====Spinal cystic tumor=====
An MRI has been considered as the best tool to investigate the spinal cystic tumor. Generally,  [[schwannoma]]s appears as hypointensity on T1-weighted MR images and heterogenous intensity on T2-weighted MR images, based on the different components within the schwannoma
((Matsui H, Kanamori M, Yudoh K, Ohmori K, Yasuda T,
Wakaki K. Cystic spinal cord tumors: magnetic resonance
imaging correlated to histopathological findings. Neurosurg Rev
1998; 21: 147-151.)).

The hypointensity on T2-weighted MR images often correspond to hemorrhage, dense cellularity or collagen deposition, whereas hyperintensity may represent cystic changes
((Jaiswal A, Shetty AP, Rajasekaran S. Giant cystic intradural
schwannoma in the lumbosacral region: a case report. J Orthop
Surg (Hong Kong) 2008; 16: 102-106.)).

The radiological differential diagnosis of spinal cystic tumor includes a cystic neurinoma, ependymoma,
neurenteric cyst, epidermoid, bronchogenic cyst, cystic teratoma, [[Tarlov cyst]], and arachnoid cyst
((Kasliwal MK, Kale SS, Sharma BS, Suri V. Totally cystic
intradural extramedullary schwannoma. Turk Neurosurg 2008;
18: 404-406.))
((Shiono T, Yoshikawa K, Iwasaki N. Huge lumbar spinal cystic
neurinomas with unusual MR findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol
1995; 16 (4 Suppl): 881-882.))

A contrast study is preferred to differentiate schwannoma from other neoplasms. Rim enhancement of an intradural extramedullary tumor on MRI should be considered as the diagnosis of schwannoma.