CT examination of spinal tumours

Forty-five patients with a spinal, intraspinal or paraspinal tumour were evaluated by computed tomography. All examinations revealed pathological findings. In 30 cases the extent of the tumour was determined at surgery and in only two cases was there a discrepancy from the CT findings. Twenty-nine patients also underwent conventional myelography, three of which were negative. In the estimation of the extent of extradural tumours or bone involvement, CT was superior to other methods, but the size and localization of intradural tumours were estimated equally well by CT and conventional myelography. In patients with an intramedullary lesion CT was necessary to distinguish a solid neoplasm from a cystic lesion. In CT examinations of intraspinal tumours, intrathecal contrast medium increased the amount of information obtained especially in the thoracic and cervical regions, but was not necessary if myelograms were available. Intravenous contrast medium helped in the evaluation of some intraspinal neoplasms but did not improve the delineation of the paraspinal components.