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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging for Assessment of Spinal Cord Blood Flow in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: May 7, 2015
Non-enhancing pilocytic astrocytoma of the spinal cord
David B Larson1, Gary L Hedlund
1Department of Radiology A-030, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 E. Ninth Ave., Denver, CO 80262, USA. david.larson@uchsc.edu
Abstract:
Pilocytic astrocytomas are among the most common intramedullary spinal cord tumors in the pediatric age group. The presence of contrast enhancement is a major factor used to distinguish these tumors from other spinal cord lesions. We present a case of histologically proved non-enhancing intramedullary spinal cord pilocytic astrocytoma in a 12-year-old girl. This case represents an exception to the conventional wisdom that pediatric spinal neoplasms enhance with administration of intravenous contrast material.
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