Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 7, Issue 6 317-325, Copyright © 1988 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Intraoperative spinal sonography in the evaluation of intramedullary tumors
J. F. Platt, J. M. Rubin, W. F. Chandler, R. A. Bowerman and M. A. DiPietro
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor 48109-0030.
Seventeen intraoperative spinal sonographic examinations were performed in
14 patients with intramedullary spinal cord neoplasms. Results of the
ultrasound exams were correlated with preoperative imaging studies,
surgical findings, and histopathologic analysis of the tumors.
Intraoperative spinal sonography accurately localized the intramedullary
tumors, often revealing the need for extension of the initial laminectomy.
The neoplasms appeared as expansile echogenic masses, with cystic
components in over half. Ultrasound was as accurate as preoperative imaging
in the evaluation of solid neoplasms, and was superior to computed
tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for delineating the
cystic components of neoplasms. Intraoperative sonography should be used
routinely in all surgical cases of intramedullary spinal cord neoplasms.
