Imaging Spectrum of Pediatric Spinal Neoplasms

Pediatric spinal neoplasms encompass a wide range of lesions in the spinal cord, surrounding dural spaces, and bone. Due to the insidious onset of frequently vague symptoms, radiologists play an important role in the evaluation and correct diagnosis of these lesions. Magnetic resonance (MR) is the imaging technique of choice and is used to classify spinal lesions anatomically into intra- versus extramedullary and intra- versus extradural locations. Correlation with key clinical and imaging features allows radiologists to form a limited differential diagnosis and often to make a specific diagnosis. The purpose of this article was to review imaging of pediatric spinal cord neoplasms, including anatomy and key radiographic features of various neoplasms.

Learning Objective: 1) To state the utility of anatomic classification of neoplasms to establish a limited differential diagnosis, and 2) to describe key clinical, imaging, and pathologic characteristics of common pediatric spinal neoplasms.