Spinal Cord Ependymomas: MR Imaging Features and Differential Diagnosis

Objective:To study the MR imaging features of spinal cord ependymomas. Methods: 16 cases of ependymomas with histologically confirmed were retrospectively reviewed in terms of location, size, pattern of growth,signal intensity, enhancement pattern as well as the presence or absence of cystic degeneration,hemorrhage and cap sign on MRI imaging. Results; All spinal cord ependymomas showed epicenteral growth and 3 cases of filar ependymomas were complicated with inter-vertebral foramina dilatation. The tumors were involved in 2.7 numbers of vertebral highness along congifudinal direction. Majority of tumors were iso- or hypointense on T1W1 and all were hyperintense on T2W1. 10 cases of spinal ependymomas were associated with cranial and/or caudal reactive cystic degerantion of spinal cord. Three spinal ependymomas showed cystic area within the tumor and two with intratumoral hemorrhage. Cap sign was observed in 5 cases of tumors on T2WI imaging. 15 cases of tumors showed obviously enhancement and 14 cases had well-defined margins on the contrast-enhanced images. Conclusion: Spinal cord ependymomas have charicteristic MR features, which is helpful to improve the diagnosis.