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MRI diagnosis and preoperative evaluation for pure epidural cavernous hemangiomas

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Introduction

The aims of the study were to summarize the characteristics of the spinal epidural cavernous hemangioma, especially for the MRI, and to improve the accurate rate of the preoperative diagnosis.

Methods

The clinical and medical imaging data of six patients with pure spinal epidural cavernous hemangioma proved by operation and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

The level was thoracic (n = 2), thoracolumbar (n = 1), lumbar (n = 1), and sacral (n = 2). The tumor showed lobulated contour, and the areas the tumors appeared were dorsal side of spinal cord (n = 2), ventral side (n = 1), and lateral side (n = 3). In all six patients, the lesions were isointense to the spinal cord on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images and showed homogeneously strong enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. The characteristic MRI features were named as the “wafting-silk” sign. Widening of the intervertebral neural foramen (n = 4) and erosion of the adjacent bones (n = 3) can be observed.

Conclusions

MRI of the epidural cavernous hemangioma showed the characteristic lobulated contour, which encircled the spinal cord. T1WI on the MRI presented as isointense and T2WI presented as hyperintense and a homogeneously strong enhancement, so we first proposed the sign of wafting silk. The widening of the intervertebral neural foramen and erosion of the adjacent bones can easily be observed. MR imaging has an important role in the detection and diagnosis of pure spinal epidural cavernous hemangioma.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China

    Jie Feng, Yi-Kai Xu, Rui-Meng Yang, Tian Yu & Bing-Quan Lin

  2. Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Corps Hospital, Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, No. 268 Yanling Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510507, China

    Long Li

  3. Department of Radiotherapy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China

    Xiang-Hua Ye

  4. Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China

    Nan Zhang

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  1. Jie Feng
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  2. Yi-Kai Xu
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  7. Tian Yu
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  8. Bing-Quan Lin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi-Kai Xu.

Additional information

The highest academic degree of Jie Feng, Yi-Kai Xu, Rui-Meng Yang, Long Li, Xiang-Hua Ye, and Tian Yu is MD and of Nan Zhang and Bing-Quan Lin is MM.

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Feng, J., Xu, YK., Li, L. et al. MRI diagnosis and preoperative evaluation for pure epidural cavernous hemangiomas. Neuroradiology 51, 741–747 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0555-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0555-2

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