MRI diagnosis of intraspinal primary melanocytic neoplasms / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze and summarize the MR findings of intraspinal primary melanocytie neoplasms.Methods Five cases of intraspinal primary melanocytic neoplasms were retrospectively analyzed with emphasis on the location,growth pattern and MR signal intensity features of the tumors.Results A total of six tumors were found in five cases (one case had two tumors).The tumors were located in the cercival spine (2),thoracic spine (2),thoracolumbar junction (2) respectively.One tumor was located in the intramedullary space and 5 tumors in the extrumedullary-intradural space.Growth of the tumors were limited in the intradural space without evidence of extradural extension.The intramedullary tumor exhibited hyperintensity on both T2WI and T1 WI.The intradural tumors showed hyperintensity on T1WI and hypointensity or isointensity on T2WI of various degree.Three of these tumors were predominantly hyperintense on T1 WI and homogeneously hypointense on T2WI.Conclusion The intraspinal primary melanocytic neoplasms could be diagnosed pre-operatively due to their unique signal intensity features on imaging.