Tuberculosis of Myelon and Spinal Meninges:MRI Diagnosis / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the MRI appearances of tuberculosis of myelon and spinal meninges,and to study the value of MRI in diagnosis of this disease.Methods The imaging appearances of tuberculosis of myelon and spinal meninges tuberculosis in 8 cases were reviewed.All cases underwent plain MRI and contrast-enhanced MRI examinations.Results In 8 cases,there were myelonic tuberculosis in 3,myelonic tuberculosis accompanied with spinal meninges tuberculosis in 2 and spinal meninges tuberculosis in 3.Myelonic tuberculosis appeared as intramedullary tuberculous granuloma in 2,granulitis in 1 and tuberculous myelitis in 2.The appearances of MRI were spinal cord swelling,low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI.On contrast-enhanced MRI,the lesions were circular enhancement,military nodules or non-enhancement.The typical MRI appearances of spinal meningeal tuberculosis showed spinal meninges generally thickened,narrowing or closing of subarachnoid cavity,on contrast-enhanced MRI,the lesions were tubiform enhancement of sagittal images or circular enhancement of axial images.All cases had active tuberculosis in neighbourhood organ or tissue.Conclusion The MRI appearances of tuberculosis of myelon and spinal meninges are representative,the definite diagnosis of which can be made when the MRI appearances in combination with the history of the patients and the active tuberculosis of neighbourhood organ or tissue.