Diagnostic Value of MRI in Schwannoma / 대한골관절종양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To diagnose soft tissue tumor, such as lipoma and Schwannoma, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is sufficient in most cases. However, various characteristics are found in MRI images of Schwannoma, thus other type of tumors are often misdiagnosed as Schwannoma with MRI images. In this study, we evaluate the diagnostic value of specific MRI findings of Schwannoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2002 to May 2013, 104 patients who are suspected as Schwannoma rith MRI images are included in data, and the final diagnosis is confirmed with biopsy. Patients are divided into group 1 and group 2 who are confirmed as Schwannoma and other disease with biopsy, respectively. RESULTS: 92 patients were diagnosed as Schwannoma (group 1) and 12 patients were diagnosed as other disease (group 2). We investigate the diagnostic value of specific MRI findings of Schwannoma. 41 patients of group 1 (45%) and 0 patients of group 2 (0%) showed target sign, 47 patients of group 1 (51%) and 2 patients of group 2 (17%) showed fascicular sign, 44 patients of group 1 (48%) and 5 patients of group 2 (42%) showed fat split sign, 28 patients of group 1 (30%) and 1 patients of group 2(9%) showed nerve entering and exiting sign, and 8 patients of group 1 (9%) and 6 patients of group 2 (50%) showed none of four specific findings on their MRI images. 52 patients of group 1 (57%) and 5 patients of group 2 (42%) have tumors on the pathway of nerve. Target sign could be considered as the best diagnostic value of the sign we investigate (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although specific MRI findings have powerful diagnostic value, patients are often misdiagnosed as Schwannoma with MRI findings. Therefore, if patients who are suspected as Schwannoma based on MRI findings have no target sign on their MRI images, we should consider the possibility of other disease.