INTRAMEDULLARY GLIOFIBROMA - MR, ULTRASOUND, AND PATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION

We describe the clinical, MR, ultrasound, and pathologic findings of a n intramedullary gliofibroma. This uncommon primitive tumor is thought to be of mixed glial and mesenchymal origin. Although the majority of tumors described to date have been histologically benign, clinical co urse has been quite variable. On MRI, the tumor we report was isointen se to adjacent spinal cord on T1-weighted imaging and became hyperinte nse on proton and T2-weighted imaging. Enhancement with gadolinium die thylenetriamine pentaacetic acid was mild and slightly heterogeneous. Intraoperative ultrasound demonstrated widening of the lower thoracic cord. Echo pattern was generally similar to that of adjacent cord. The major differential diagnostic considerations include astrocytoma and ependymoma.