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Early diagnosis of spinal—epidural metastasis by magnetic resonance imaging
Author(s) -
Sarpel Suleyman,
Sarpel Gunseli,
Yu Eddy,
Hyder Shakir,
Kaufman Brian,
Hindo Walid,
Ezdinli Ediz
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19870315)59:6<1112::aid-cncr2820590612>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , metastasis , spinal disease , rachis , bone metastasis , spinal cord compression , nuclear medicine , spinal cord , cancer , surgery , lumbar , psychiatry
Sixteen patients with various types of cancer who developed pain along the axial spine were prospectively studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The studies were performed with a Fonar Beta‐3000 (Fonar Co., Melville, NY) permanent magnet operating at 0.3 Tesla (T). Detailed neurologic examinations were followed by bone x‐rays, bone scans, and MRI. In 12 patients there were focal neurologic findings. Bone x‐rays and bone scans were diagnostic for metastatic disease in 10 cases; MRIs were consistent with metastatic spinal—epidural disease in all 16 patients. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bone involvement in three patients whose x‐rays and bone scans were both negative indicating a higher degree of sensitivity. In six patients thecal compression was obvious on MRI; in three of these previous myelograms had been interpreted as negative. These early results suggest that MRI can serve as a useful tool for diagnosing early spinal—epidural metastases. Cancer 59:1112‐1116, 1987.