Key Facts
In adults,intradural <<extradural spinal metastases(Leptomeningeal >>cord metastases).
In children,intradural >extradural metastases.
Classic imaging appearance=“carcinomatous meningitis”
can be caused by spread from intracranial neoplasm(“drop mets”)or non-CNS primary tumor.
Imaging Findings
General features
Best imaging clue:smooth/nodular enhancement along cord,roots.
Four basic patterns:(1)Diffuse,thin,sheetlike coating of cord/roots (“carcinomatous meningitis”);(2)multifocal discrete nodules along cord/roots;
(3)“rope-like” thickening of cauda equine;(4)solitary focal mass at bottom of thecal sac or intramedullary nodule.
CT findings:often normal;+/-bony/extradural tumor present.
MR findings
T1WI:(1)Metastases usually isointense with cord,roots;(2)extensive disease may fill thecal sac (see Lymphoma illustration);(3)CSF in sac has “ground glass” appearance;(4)nerve roots appear blurred,“smudged”.
T2WI:Metastases usually isointense with cord,roots (hypointense to CSF).
Contrast-enhanced T1WI:(1)Strong enhancement;(2)pattern varies including“sugar coating” of cord and/or roots,single/multiple enhancing nodular masses,and round/ovoid intramedullary mass,often with ring-like pattern.
Myelography,CT myelography:(1)Single or multifocal nodules;(2)expanded cord,thickened nerve roots.
Imaging recommendations
Image entire neuraxis!
High resolution T2WI,contrast-enhanced,fat-suppressed T1WI and STIR(look for bony metastases).Do it prior to craniotomy!
Differential diagnosis
Postoperative change:Subarachnoid blood,adhesions can mimic leptomeningeal metastases.
“Carcinomatous meningitis”:Pyogenic meningitis (clinical/laboratory findings helpful),sarcoidosis.
“Drop Metastases”:Multifocal primary tumor,myxopapillary ependymoma,hemangioblastoma,astrocytoma (uncommon).
Thick nerve roots/Cauda equina:Congenital hypertrophic polyradiculoneuropathies,Charcot-Marie-Tooth,dejerine-sottas,chronic interstitial demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP),chemotherapy-associated polyneuropathy,AIDS-associated polyneuropathy (e.g.,CMV).
Intramedullary metastases(rare):Radiation-induced myelitis,primary cord tumor (metastases=focal nodule+edema >infiltrating mass).
Pathology
General path comments:Broad spectrum of primary neoplasms.
Etiology-pathogenesis
Hematogenous dissemination from extracranial neoplasm:Most are adenocarcinomas (lung,breast).
Other=non-Hodgkin lymphoma,leukemia.
“Drop” metastases from CNS primary tumor:(1)Adults=anaplastic astrocytoma,glioblastoma GBM (0.5%-1% of cases);(2)Children=embryonal tumor (medulloblastoma),ependymoma,choroid plexus tumors (both papillomas,carcinomas),germinomas.
Gross pathologic-surgical features and microscopic features
Varies with pattern,type of metastasis.
Varies with histology of primary neoplasm;CSF usually positive in leptomeningeal metastases disease and negative in intramedullary tumors.
Clinical issues
Presentation is varies;may be asymptomatic early.Radiculopathy >myelopathy.
Natural history:relentless progression typical.
Treatment:radiation and/or chemotherapy.
Prognosis:survival usually <1 year.
醫(yī)學(xué)詞匯注釋與簡(jiǎn)要講解
carcinomatous meningitis 癌性腦膜炎
drop mets 腦脊液播散
cauda equine 馬尾
CT 平掃或增強(qiáng)均無(wú)特殊發(fā)現(xiàn),但可以了解骨轉(zhuǎn)移
smudged 污垢狀的
myelography 脊髓造影
磁共振檢查最重要,應(yīng)包括整個(gè)神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)(顱腦和脊柱)
鑒別診斷應(yīng)圍繞不同的形態(tài)特征展開(kāi):
術(shù)后改變
癌性腦膜炎
腦脊液播散灶
神經(jīng)根/馬尾增粗
髓內(nèi)轉(zhuǎn)移
congenital hypertrophic polyradiculoneuropathies
先天性肥厚多根神經(jīng)病
chronic interstitial demyelinating polyneuropathy
慢性間質(zhì)脫髓鞘性多發(fā)性神經(jīng)病
血行轉(zhuǎn)移多來(lái)自腺癌,其次是血液?。馨土觥籽。?/p>
腦脊液播散,成人主要見(jiàn)于多形性膠質(zhì)母細(xì)胞瘤、而神經(jīng)母細(xì)胞瘤少見(jiàn)
兒童多見(jiàn)于胚胎性腫瘤(如髓母細(xì)胞瘤)、室管膜瘤、脈絡(luò)叢乳頭狀瘤/癌、生殖細(xì)胞腫瘤