THE DIAGNOSIS OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR SPINAL CAVERNOUS ANGIOMAS

Objective To assess the characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging for spinal cavernous angiomas.Methods The examinations of plain scan and contrast enhanced scan of magnetic resonance were performed in three patients with spinal cavernous angiomas.Results The focus of two cases was located in thorax segment of the spinal cord and one in lower cervical segment.All focuses were single and the shape of spinal cord was normal or slightly thick. MRI characteristic of spinal cavernous angiomas was just like popcorn or mulberry with a jumbled gobbet signal. Low and short T 2 signal appeared around the focus. In all cases, there were no obvious contrast enhanced signal in 2 cases and one case with moderate contrast enhanced signal. The diameter of hemorrhage was smaller than that of the spinal cord.Conclusion MRI has higher sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of spinal cavernous angioma.