Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Metastatic disease of the spine

  • Neuro
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Metastases of the spine occur in the spinal cord, dura extramedullary, epidural space, and vertebral bodies. Imaging modalities can be used to evaluate patient symptoms, screen and detect lesions, assess localization and the compartments involved (extradural, epidural, subdural, and paraspinal), and suggest therapeutic strategies. The suggested flow chart for metastases is (1) in asymptomatic patients suspected for metastases and (2) in the patient with neurological symptoms. Imaging modalities are indispensable in differential diagnosis because some nontumoral lesions can mimic metastases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schiff D, O’Neill BP, Suman VJ (1997) Spinal epidural metastasis as the initial manifestation of malignancy: clinical features and diagnostic approach. Neurology 49:452–456

    Google Scholar 

  2. Layer G, Steudel A, Schuller H, van Kaick G, Grunwald F, Reiser M, Schild HH (1999) Magnetic resonance imaging to detect bone marrow metastases in the initial staging of small cell lung carcinoma and breast carcinoma. Cancer 85:1004–1009

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Steinborn MM, Heuck AF, Tilling R et al (1999) Whole body bone marrow MRI in patients with metastatic disease to the skeletal system. J Cent Adv Telev Stud 23(1):123–129

    Google Scholar 

  4. Eustace S, Tello R, DeCarvalho V et al (1997) A comparison of whole body turbo STIR MR imaging and planar 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate scintigraphy in the examination of patients with suspected skeletal metastases. Am J Roentgenol 169(6):1655–1661

    Google Scholar 

  5. Daldrup-Link HE, Franzius C, Link TM et al (2001) Whole body MR imaging for detection of bone metastases in children and young adults: comparison with skeletal scintigraphy and FDG PET. Am J Roentgenol 177:229–236

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Engelhard K, Hollenbach HP, Wohlfart K et al (2004) Comparison of whole-body MRI with automatic moving table technique and bone scintigraphy for screening for bone metastases in patients with breast cancer. Eur Radiol 14(1):99–105

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kavanagh E, Smith C, Eustace S (2003) Whole-body turbo STIR MR imaging: controversies and avenues for development. Eur Radiol 13(9):2196–2205

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Goyen M, Goehde SC, Herborn CU et al (2004) MR-based full-body preventative cardiovascular and tumor imaging: technique and preliminary experience. Eur Radiol 14(5):783–791

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mentzel HJ, Kentouche K, Sauner D et al (2004) Comparison of whole-body STIR-MRI and (99m) Tc-methylene-diphosphonate scintigraphy in children with suspected multifocal bone lesions. Eur Radiol 14(12):2297–2302. DOI 10.1007/s00330-004-2390-5

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kienstra GE, Terwee CB, Dekker FW, Cantal R, Bortslap AC, Tijssen JG (2000) Prediction of spina epidural metastases. Arch Neurol 57:690–695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Vanel D, Bittoun J, Tardivon A (1998) MRI of bone metastases. Eur Radiol 8:1345–1351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Yuh WTC, Zachar CK, Barloon TJ et al (1989) Vertebral compression fractures: distinction between benign and malignant causes with MR imaging. Radiology 172:215–218

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Baur A, Stabler A, Bruning R et al (1998) Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of bone marrow: differentiation of benign versus pathologic compression fracture. Radiology 207(2):349–356

    Google Scholar 

  14. Castillo M, Arbelaez A, Smith JK, Fisher LL (2000) Diffusion weighted MR imaging offers non advantage over routine noncontrast MR imaging in the detection of vertebral metastases. Am J Neuroradiol 21(5):948–953

    Google Scholar 

  15. Spuentrup E, Buecker A, Adam G et al (2001) Diffusion-weighted MR imaging for differentiation of benign fracture edema and tumor infiltration of the vertebral body. Am J Roentgenol 176(2):351–358

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cosma Andreula.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Andreula, C., Murrone, M. Metastatic disease of the spine. Eur Radiol 15, 627–632 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2627-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2627-3

Keywords

Navigation