Magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord hemangioblastomas and arteriovenous malformations.

Eight patients with either spinal cord hemangioblastomas (n = 5), spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVM) (n = 2) and intramedullary hematoma (n = 1) were studied by magnetic responance (MR) imaging. All hemangioblastomas, one AVM and the intramedullary hematoma were identified by MR. Compared with other neuroradiologic procedures, MR provided important complementary information in the diagnostic management of spinal hemangioblastomas and proved to be a useful method for noninvasive follow-up in these lesions. MR is an excellent method in the evaluation of intramedullary hematomas. It may also be useful for demonstration of larger intradural AVM and of thrombus formation in AVM after surgery or embolization procedures.