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| Magnetic resonance imaging features of spinal cord schistosomiasis |
| LUO Zhao-yang |
| Department of Radiology, Affiliated Xiangyue Hospital, Hunan Provincial Schistosomiasis Disease Research Institute, Yueyang Hunan 414000, China |
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Abstract Objective: To discuss the MRI findings of spinal cord schistosomiasis and its diagnostic value. Materials and Methods: To review the MRI data of 11 cases of spinal cord schistosomiasis, all cases were diagnosed by the trial treatment and laboratory test or by the surgical-pathological examination, all cases were examined with MRI plain scans and contrast scans. Results: MRI showed mild to moderate expansion of the distal spinal cord and conus in 11 cases, the lesions were iso- to slightly hypo-intense relative to cord tissues on T1- and heterogeneous hyperintense on T2-weighted spin-echo images, the signal intensity was lower than cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) on T2WI, soft tissue mass at intradural-extramedullary with abnormal signal intensity of the distal spinal cord in 2 cases. And intramedullary multiple small nodular or patchy enhancement in 7 cases, irregular masslike enhancement in 2 cases, peripheral linear enhancement on the cord surface in 6 cases and enhancement of the cauda equina roots in 5 cases and mild enhancement of the intradural mass in 2 cases after intravenous administration of gadolinium-DTPA. Conclusion: The MRI of spinal cord schistosomiasis presents some features, combined with the history of exposure to schistosoma-contaminated water, the immunological studies and the trial treatment are helpful to the diagnosis of the disease.
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Received: 08 March 2010
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2010, Vol. 21 
