Abstract
During the period from October, 1977 through September, 1979, 1 1 cases of the spinal cord tumors were studied by either an EMI whole Body Scanner, CT 5005 (slice thickness: 13 mm) or EMI Head Scanner, CT 1010 (slice thickness: 10 mm). In eight cases except for lipomas, enhancement with intravenous injection of contrast medium (150 ml of 65% angiografin) was performed. Five cases received an intrathecal injection of metrizamide (170-250mgI/ml, 7-10 ml). The diagnoses were neurinomas in four cases, lipomas in three cases, meningiomas in two cases and astrocytomas in two cases.
Plain spinal CT is of diagnostic value in detecting bone changes and lipoma. Meningioma and neurinoma showed positive contrast enhancement and the extraspinal extension of the tumor is accurately outlined by spinal CT. CT metrizamide myelography visualizes the subarachnoid space and makes it possible to localize the tumor in the spinal canal in relation to the spinal cord. Localization of the tumor in axial plane is difficult and it is impossible to demonstrate the vascularity of the tumor and its relationship to the vessels.
