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MR Imaging Findings of a Leiomyosarcoma of the Thoracic Spine: A Case Report

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Abstract

We report a case of leiomyosarcoma of the thoracic spine. Primary leiomyosarcoma is a malignant connective tissue tumor originating from smooth muscle cells. Leiomyosarcoma frequently occurs in the uterus, retroperitoneal space, gastrointestinal tract, and deep soft tissues; primary leiomyosarcoma of the bone is rare. The MR imaging including intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging findings of the current case indicated a low diffusion coefficient and high blood flow, which were in concurrence with high cell density on histology and increased vascularity by angiography. Although some benign tumors such as osteoblastoma and giant cell tumor would show similar findings on IVIM imaging, these additional imaging features may narrow the differential diagnosis of spinal tumors.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 26461828.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. Publication is approved by all authors and explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582, Fukuoka, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Japan

    K. Tahara, K. Yamashita MD, PhD, A. Hiwatashi, O. Togao, K. Kikuchi & H. Honda

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582, Fukuoka, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Japan

    M. Endo

  3. Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582, Fukuoka, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Japan

    H. Otsuka & Y. Oda

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  1. K. Tahara
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  2. K. Yamashita MD, PhD
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  3. A. Hiwatashi
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Correspondence to K. Yamashita MD, PhD.

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Tahara, K., Yamashita, K., Hiwatashi, A. et al. MR Imaging Findings of a Leiomyosarcoma of the Thoracic Spine: A Case Report. Clin Neuroradiol 26, 229–233 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-015-0420-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-015-0420-0

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