Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of 11 cases with spinal column metastatic tumor by MRI

Objective:To diagnose and differential diagnose spinal column metastatic tumor according to MRI appearance. Methods: MRI appearance of 11 cases with spinal column metastatic tumor which were verified by pathology were analysed retrospectively. Results:Twenty-two centrums were involved in 11 cases. Lateral mass of vertebrae of 5 cases, spinous process and transverse process of 7 cases were involved. Twenty-two vertebras showed low signal on T1WI. Mixed signal in 19 centrums and low signal in 3 centrums were detected on T2WI. The T2WI/STIR of vertebras showed high signal. Pathologic fracture in 12 centrums, anterior and posterior border swelling in 11 centrums, paraspinal mass in 5 centrums and skip sign in 5 centrums were confirmed. Conclusions:MRI appearance of spinal column metastatic tumor is distinctive, which can exactly provide the information of tumor extent and degree.