Author(s): Dr Joanna Perthen, Dr Priya Bhatnagar

Hospital: Royal Victoria Infirmary

Reference: RAD Magazine, 45, 524, 9-10

Excerpt: 

Spinal tumours carry significant morbidity. They typically present with pain or sensory/motor dysfunction – symptoms that carry a wide differential including neoplastic, inflammatory, degenerative, traumatic, infective and vascular processes. Imaging plays a vital role in the diagnostic pathway, with MRI usually being the most appropriate modality to fully assess the spine. When establishing a differential diagnosis, imaging characteristics must be considered in combination with the clinical presentation, age and gender of the patient.