[Magnetic resonance imaging of intraspinal hemangioblastoma]

Magnetic resonance (MR) findings in 16 patients operated on 21 spinal cord hemangioblastomas were reviewed. Three of these patients had von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. 13 patients had Gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MR and 2 had dynamic sequences. Using Gd-DTPA makes the diagnosis of hemangioblastomas considerably easier compared to conventional non contrast MR. Findings are specific: a tumor nodule with, as a general rule, an extensive cyst formation; the nodule shows intense, earliness, homogeneous contrast enhancement as the cyst wall does not. In less typical cases, dynamic sequences may be useful in order to distinguish hemangioblastoma from other spinal cord tumor nodules. Today, MRI is the diagnostic modality of choice and angiography should not be used. MRI is also an excellent way to check the central nervous system and the visceral manifestations in a case of von Hippel-Lindau disease and to follow up the patients.