OBJECTIVE: To present the imaging findings for two cases of intramedul
lary schwannoma involving the thoracic cord and the conus medullaris,
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 34-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman presen
ted with symptoms of weakness and pain in the lower limbs. Myelography
and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as other examinations, were p
erformed, RESULTS: The imaging failed to indicate the correct diagnosi
s in either patient. However, intramedullary schwannoma was confirmed
pathologically in both patients, Subtotal excision resulted in local t
umour recurrence at 5 and 3 years respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intramedu
llary schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of
spinal cord tumours, The importance of accurate diagnosis from frozen
sections at surgical biopsy is emphasized.