[Magnetic resonance tomography in the diagnosis of intramedullary tumors]

The data of magnetic resonance imaging in 23 patients is hardly sufficient to characterize the histologic types of intramedullary tumors. However, the presence of cystous type of structure of intramedullary tumors on magnetic tomograms with nonhomogeneous (iso- or hypointensive) signal on T1-suspended tomograms or of hyper- or hypointensive signal on T2-suspended ones is to a great measure indicative of infiltration and diffuse growth of a tumor. A solid structure of intramedullary tumor with homogenous hyperintensive signals on both T1- and T2-dependent tomograms is more frequently indicative of a slowly growing tumor not involving the medulla, e.g. ependioma.