How would spinal cancer show on an MRI?
On Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), spinal cancer may appear as abnormal growths or lesions within the spinal cord or surrounding tissues. Here's how spinal cancer can manifest on an MRI:
1. Signal Changes: Spinal cancer can alter the normal signal intensity of tissues on MRI images. Tumorous lesions may appear:
- Hypointense (darker) on T1-weighted images and hyperintense (brighter) on T2-weighted images: This is commonly seen with solid tumors like meningiomas or schwannomas.
- Hyperintense on both T1- and T2-weighted images: This can be observed in certain types of aggressive tumors, such as high-grade gliomas or metastatic lesions.
2. Mass Effect: Spinal tumors can occupy space within the spinal canal, leading to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. This compression may result in enlargement or distortion of the affected spinal structures.
3. Contrast Enhancement: When a contrast agent (gadolinium) is administered during the MRI, spinal tumors often show enhancement. The extent and pattern of enhancement can provide information about the tumor's vascularity, cellularity, and aggressiveness.
4. Edema: Cancerous lesions can cause surrounding tissues to swell, leading to increased fluid content and edema. This can manifest as hyperintense areas on T2-weighted images.
5. Bone Changes: Some spinal cancers, such as multiple myeloma or metastatic lesions, can involve the vertebral bodies or other bony structures of the spine. MRI can detect bony destruction, marrow infiltration, or the presence of pathologic fractures.
6. Spinal Cord Involvement: When spinal cancer directly affects the spinal cord, it can disrupt the normal signal intensity and architecture of the cord. This can manifest as focal areas of signal abnormality or swelling within the cord substance.
By studying these MRI findings, radiologists can identify and characterize spinal cancers, differentiate them from other conditions, and assess their extent and relationship to surrounding structures. MRI is valuable in aiding diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring the response to therapy in individuals with suspected or known spinal cancer.