Diagnostic value of MRI in spinal cord tuberculoma

Objective To investigate MRI diagnosis of tuberculoma in spinal cord.Methods Radiological data of plain and enhanced MRI in 20 spinal cord tuberculoma cases were reviewed retrospectively,including the amount,disposition,size,shape,signal characteristic and accompanying signs.Results In 20 cases,47 lesions were detected,15 of which were localized in cervical spinal cord,14 of which were localized in thoracic spinal cord,the rest 18 were localized in lumbar spinal cord and cauda equine.Most lesions were detected in the enlarged cervical and lumbar spinal cord(P values were 0.001 and 0.008 respectively).Lesions size varied from 0.2 to 3.5 cm,the mean diameter was 1.1 cm.The shapes of lesions were round,oval and irregular.There were two kinds of tuberculomas presented by MRI,immature tuberculomas(32 of 47)and mature tuberculomas(15 of 47),uniform increased signal of immature tuberculomas were seen on the enhanced MRI.While increased rim of mature tuberculomas were seen because of the necrosis inside the lesions.Conclusions The morphological characteristic of tuberculoma in spinal cord could be shown clearly by plain and enhanced MRI.MRI played an important role in tuberculoma's therapy and prognosis.