Intradural Spinal Tumors: Current Classification and MRI Features

Overview

Journal Neuroradiology

Specialties Neurology
Radiology

Date 2007 Dec 18

PMID 18084751

Citations 97

Authors

Kasim Abul-Kasim

Majda M Thurnher

Paul McKeever

Pia C Sundgren

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of intradural spinal tumors is primarily based on location, but the clinical presentation, age, and gender of the patient are also important factors in determining the diagnosis. This comprehensive review focuses on the current classification, clinical symptoms, and MRI features of the more common intradural extramedullary and intramedullary neoplastic lesions. This review does not include extradural lesions.

Citing Articles

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Spinal Cord Tumors Among Patients and Their Families in Beijing: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Liu L, Su Y, Shi L J Multidiscip Healthc. 2025; 18:1093-1106.

PMID: 40026863 PMC: 11871926. DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S504886.

Radiographic Features of Spinal Meningioma and Schwannoma: A Novel Specific Feature-Ginkgo Leaf Sign.

Toda Y, Miyazaki M, Kobayashi T, Egashira Y, Lee D, Hamanaka H Spine Surg Relat Res. 2025; 9(1):45-50.

PMID: 39935985 PMC: 11808241. DOI: 10.22603/ssrr.2024-0059.

Current molecular understanding of central nervous system schwannomas.

Tsuchiya T, Miyawaki S, Teranishi Y, Ohara K, Hirano Y, Ogawa S Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2025; 13(1):24.

PMID: 39910685 PMC: 11796276. DOI: 10.1186/s40478-025-01937-w.

Right Thoracoscopic, Robot-Assisted Resection of an Apical Mediastinal C7 Schwannoma.

Oslin S, Villeneuve L, Shi H, Muhammad F, Reinersman J, Smith Z J Neurol Surg Rep. 2024; 85(4):e187-e189.

PMID: 39726919 PMC: 11671177. DOI: 10.1055/a-2482-9271.

Unusual appearance of spontaneous spinal intradural hematoma mimicking a meningioma.

Alali A, Alassiri A Radiol Case Rep. 2024; 20(1):310-313.

PMID: 39539381 PMC: 11558620. DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2024.10.038.

References

DeAngelis L . Current diagnosis and treatment of leptomeningeal metastasis. J Neurooncol. 1998; 38(2-3):245-52. DOI: 10.1023/a:1005956925637. View

Krings T, Lasjaunias P, Hans F, Mull M, Nijenhuis R, Alvarez H . Imaging in spinal vascular disease. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2007; 17(1):57-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2007.01.001. View

Louis D, Ohgaki H, Wiestler O, Cavenee W, Burger P, Jouvet A . The 2007 WHO classification of tumours of the central nervous system. Acta Neuropathol. 2007; 114(2):97-109. PMC: 1929165. DOI: 10.1007/s00401-007-0243-4. View

DeAngelis L, Boutros D . Leptomeningeal metastasis. Cancer Invest. 2005; 23(2):145-54. View

Ducreux D, Lepeintre J, Fillard P, Loureiro C, Tadie M, Lasjaunias P . MR diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tracking in 5 spinal cord astrocytomas. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006; 27(1):214-6. PMC: 7976075. View

Park C, Chung C, Choe G, Wang K, Cho B, Kim H . Intramedullary spinal cord ganglioglioma: a report of five cases. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2000; 142(5):547-52. DOI: 10.1007/s007010050467. View

Crispino M, Vecchioni S, Galli G, OLIVETTI L . Spinal intradural extramedullary haemangioma: MRI and neurosurgical findings. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2005; 147(11):1195-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00701-005-0621-4. View

White S, Hajnal J, Young I, Bydder G . Use of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery pulse sequences for imaging the spinal cord. Magn Reson Med. 1992; 28(1):153-62. DOI: 10.1002/mrm.1910280116. View

Khong P, Goh W, Wong V, Fung C, Ooi G . MR imaging of spinal tumors in children with neurofibromatosis 1. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003; 180(2):413-7. DOI: 10.2214/ajr.180.2.1800413. View

10.

Thakkar S, Feigen U, Mautner V . Spinal tumours in neurofibromatosis type 1: an MRI study of frequency, multiplicity and variety. Neuroradiology. 1999; 41(9):625-9. DOI: 10.1007/s002340050814. View

11.

Choi J, Chang K, Yu I, Kim K, Kwon B, Han M . Intracranial and spinal ependymomas: review of MR images in 61 patients. Korean J Radiol. 2003; 3(4):219-28. PMC: 2713843. DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2002.3.4.219. View

12.

Yoshii S, Shimizu K, Ido K, Nakamura T . Ependymoma of the spinal cord and the cauda equina region. J Spinal Disord. 1999; 12(2):157-61. View

13.

McDonald A, Nicoll J, Rampling R . Intramedullary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the spinal cord: a case report and literature review. J Neurooncol. 1995; 23(3):257-63. DOI: 10.1007/BF01059959. View

14.

Wanebo J, Lonser R, Glenn G, Oldfield E . The natural history of hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. J Neurosurg. 2003; 98(1):82-94. DOI: 10.3171/jns.2003.98.1.0082. View

15.

Melhem E, Israel D, Eustace S, Jara H . MR of the spine with a fast T1-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1997; 18(3):447-54. PMC: 8338400. View

16.

Schuknecht B, Huber P, Buller B, NADJMI M . Spinal leptomeningeal neoplastic disease. Evaluation by MR, myelography and CT myelography. Eur Neurol. 1992; 32(1):11-6. DOI: 10.1159/000116780. View

17.

De Verdelhan O, Haegelen C, Carsin-Nicol B, Riffaud L, Amlashi S, Brassier G . MR imaging features of spinal schwannomas and meningiomas. J Neuroradiol. 2005; 32(1):42-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0150-9861(05)83021-4. View

18.

Abel T, Chowdhary A, Thapa M, Rutledge J, Geyer J, Ojemann J . Spinal cord pilocytic astrocytoma with leptomeningeal dissemination to the brain. Case report and review of the literature. J Neurosurg. 2006; 105(6 Suppl):508-14. DOI: 10.3171/ped.2006.105.6.508. View

19.

Mautner V, Tatagiba M, Lindenau M, Funsterer C, Pulst S, Baser M . Spinal tumors in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2: MR imaging study of frequency, multiplicity, and variety. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1995; 165(4):951-5. DOI: 10.2214/ajr.165.4.7676998. View

20.

Bourgouin P, Lesage J, Fontaine S, Konan A, Roy D, Bard C . A pattern approach to the differential diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord lesions on MR imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998; 170(6):1645-9. DOI: 10.2214/ajr.170.6.9609189. View