MR findings of the spinal paraganglioma: report of three cases

Extraadrenal paragangliomas involving the spine is less common and usually takes the form of intradural compression of the cauda equina. The authors r eport three cases of spinal paragangliomas resulting in extradural spinal c ord compression and their MR findings. The MR imaging revealed a well-demar cated extradural mass with low to intermediate signal intensity on Tl-weigh ted images and intermediate to high signal intensity on T2-weighted images compared to paravertebral muscles. After Gd-DTPA administration, heterogene ous and intense enhancement was found. Multiple punctate and serpiginous st ructures of signal void due to high-velocity flow were noted around and wit hin the tumors on all sequences. In one case, the signal void structures we re well corresponded with feeding arteries on angiography. These may be the characteristic findings of the extraadrenal paraganglioma involving the sp ine.