MR OF SPINAL-CORD GANGLIOGLIOMA

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to describe the MR imaging features in a seri es of spinal intramedullary gangliogliomas and to compare these findin gs with the MR features of intramedullary astrocytomas and ependymomas . METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 76 MR examination s in 27 patients with histologically proved spinal ganglioglioma; thes e were then compared with imaging findings in a representative sample of histologically proved spinal cord astrocytomas and ependymomas. RES ULTS: Statistically significant observations regarding spinal gangliog liomas included young age of the patients (mean, 12 years), long tumor length, presence of tumoral cyst, presence of bone erosion and scolio sis, absence of edema, presence of mixed signal intensity on T1-weight ed images, and presence of patchy enhancement and cord surface enhance ment. A trend (not statistically significant) was noted for holocord i nvolvement and lack of magnetic susceptibility. CONCLUSION: Spinal gan glioglioma can be strongly suspected if MR images reflect the above cr iteria; however, the ultimate diagnosis still depends on radical resec tion and appropriate histopathologic investigation.