The imaging appearances of Schwannomas with spinal bone destruction

ZHANG Li-hua; YUAN Hui-shu

Journal of China Clinic Medical Imaging ›› 2012, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (12) : 870-873.

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The imaging appearances of Schwannomas with spinal bone destruction

ZHANG Li-hua, YUAN Hui-shu

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Abstract

Objective: To explore the imaging appearances of Schwannomas with spinal bone destruction and raise the awareness of this tumor. Methods: CT and MRI of 9 cases pathologically confirmed Schwannomas with spinal bone destruction were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among the 9 cases, 3 cases were located in cervical vertebrae, 4 cases were located in thoracic vertebrae, and 2 cases were located in lumbosacral vertebrae. The boundary of tumors was relatively clear, with lobulated edge. The tumors located in lumbosacral segment were larger than those in cervical thoracic segment. Eight cases were manifested as expanding osteolytic destruction. Remnants of bone crest could be seen in 3 cases. Two cases had sclerotic rims. None had complete bone shell. The intervertebral foramen and sacral foramen were expanded in 4 cases located in cervical and thoracic segment and all cases in the lumbosacral segment. T1-weighted MRI revealed that tumors had homogeneous and low to intermediate signal intensity. The tumors showed heterogeneous signal intensity on T2WI, and demonstrated significant heterogeneous enhancement on post-contrast images. Conclusions: Schwannomas with spinal bone destruction are rare. The imaging appearances of schwannomas are characteristic on CT and MRI. The tumors are lobulated, with expanding osteolytic bone destruction. The signal of tumor is heterogeneous and significant heterogeneous enhancement can be seen on post-contrast images.

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Neurilemmoma / Spinal diseases / Tomography / X-ray computed / Magnetic resonance imaging

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ZHANG Li-hua;YUAN Hui-shu. The imaging appearances of Schwannomas with spinal bone destruction[J]. Journal of China Clinic Medical Imaging. 2012, 23(12): 870-873