[Intramedullary spinal cord tumors : MRI diagnosis and differential diagnosis].

Authors

Umut Yilmaz

Published in

Radiologie (Heidelberg, Germany). Sep 09, 2026. Epub Sep 09, 2026.

Abstract

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors are rare neoplasms but frequently cause significant neurological deficits because of the limited compensatory capacity of the spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice and often allows a reliable differential diagnosis based on characteristic imaging findings.
To provide a practical neuroradiological approach to the diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord tumors, including recent developments in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification.
Narrative review of the current literature regarding epidemiology, imaging characteristics, WHO classification, and differential diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord tumors.
Ependymomas, astrocytomas, and hemangioblastomas account for the majority of intramedullary tumors. Tumor location, longitudinal extent, enhancement pattern, hemorrhagic components, syringomyelia, and flow voids substantially narrow the differential diagnosis. Recent WHO classifications increasingly incorporate molecular markers, including MYCN-amplified spinal ependymoma and H3 K27-altered diffuse midline glioma.
Structured MRI assessment frequently enables a reliable preoperative diagnosis. Inflammatory, vascular, and ischemic disorders must always be considered as important differential diagnoses.

PMID:
42714480
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Sep 2026.

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