Vol. 5, Issue 1 Neurographics logo Chhabra A. et al
 

Spinal Epidural Space:
Anatomy, Normal variations, and Pathological Lesions
on MR Imaging

Chhabra A, MD1; Batra K, MD1; Satti S, MD1; Patel S, MMS1; Feitell S, MMS1; Gonzales C, MD1; Faerber E, MD2; Koenigsberg RA, DO FAOCR1
1Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
2 St Christopher Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA

Differential Diagnosis of Spinal Epidural Space Lesions.1

I. Intrinsic
Developmental Varices, Lipomatosis. Extramedullary hematopoesis, Dural ectasia.
Traumatic Hemorrhage, Pseudomeningocele, Fibrosis.
Infective Pyogenic Abscess,TB or Fungal Granuloma, Hydatid cyst.
Neoplastic
     Benign Arachnoid Cyst, Lipoma, Angiolipoma, Perineural cyst, rarely Dermoid/ Epidermoid cyst.
     Malignant Lymphoma, Metastases.
II.  Extrinsic
Degenerative Herniated disc, Osteophytes, Hypertropied ligaments, Synovial cyst, Tarlov cyst, Gout, Dialysis spondylitis.
Infective/Inflammatory Vertebral osteomyelitis, Pott’s spine (Tuberculosis). Pannus (Rheumatoid Arthritis).
Traumatic Vertebral fracture with retropulsion, Post vertebroplasty cement leak, Post OP spondylolisthesis.
Neoplastic
     Benign Aneurysmal Bone Cyst (ABC), Giant cell tumor (GCT), Hemangioma, & rarely Neurofibroma and Meningioma.
     Malignant Plasmacytoma, Metastasis, Lymphoma, Chordoma, Ewing Sarcoma, Chondrosarcoma (CS), Rhabdomyosarcoma. Neuroblastoma, Osteosarcoma (OS)

  1. Introduction
  2. Spinal Epidural Space Anatomy and Contents
  3. MRI Technique
  4. MRI Signs of Epidural Space (ES) Pathology
  5. Normal Variations and Pseudo-tumors
  6. Differential Diagnosis of Spinal Epidural Space Lesions
  7. Developmental Lesions and Tumor like masses
  8. Traumatic Lesions
  9. Degenerative Lesions
  10. Infective/Inflammatory Lesions
  11. Key Differentiating Features of Various Tumors on MRI
  12. Conclusion
  13. References

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Use of this material without written consent of the author is prohibited.

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