MRI of hemangioblastoma in the conus medullaris

Chen, Chia-Yuen; Chen, Pao-Huan; Yao, Min-Szu; Chu, Jan-Show; Chan, Wing P.

doi:10.1016/j.compmedimag.2007.08.008

« PreviousComputerized Medical Imaging and Graphics
Volume 32, Issue 1 , Pages 78-81, January 2008

MRI of hemangioblastoma in the conus medullaris

Chia-Yuen Chen
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Medical University-Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China
Pao-Huan Chen
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China
Min-Szu Yao
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Medical University-Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China
Jan-Show Chu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China
Wing P. Chan
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Medical University-Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Corresponding author at: Department of Radiology, Taipei Medical University-Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, 111 Hsing Long Road, Section 3, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Republic of China. Tel.: +886 2 2930 7930x1300; fax: +886 2 2931 6809.

Received 31 July 2006; received in revised form 6 August 2007; accepted 15 August 2007.

Abstract

Hemangioblastoma of the conus medullaris with MRI has not been reported before. A 75-year-old man had a history of falling due to weakness of his left lower limb. MRI revealed a well-defined oval mass in the conus medullaris. The tumor had an isointense signal relative to spinal cord on T1-weighted images, hyperintense signal areas intermixed with punctate spots of hypointensity on T2-weighted images, and heterogeneous obvious enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images. Associated abnormally tortuous vessels were noted in the dura proximal to the tumor. Histological findings were compatible with the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma. Hemangioblastoma should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with an enhancing tumor and adjacent engorged vessels of the spinal cord.

Keywords: Conus medullaris, Hemangioblastoma, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Spinal cord tumors