Cystic lumbar nerve sheath tumours: MRI features in five patients

Intraspinal cystic lumbar nerve sheath tumours constitute an uncommon subset of tumours with distinct clinico-biological behaviour. The MRI findings in five such cases are presented. Four of these were cystic schwannomas and one was a cystic neurofibroma. The pathology, MRI findings and the differential diagnosis of these rare tumours are analysed.