MR Imaging Features of Solitary Plasmacytoma of the Spine

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the MR imaging features of solitaryplasmacytomas of the spine.METHODS The MR images of 7 patients with histologicallyproven solitary plasmacytomas of the spine were reviewed.RESULTS All tumors showed predominantly iso- tohypointensity relative to muscle on T1-weighted MR imagesand intermediate signal intensity between muscle and fat on T2-weighted images. Curvilinear low signal intensity structures wereseen within the lesions on T1 and T2-weighted images in fivetumors. Moderate to strong enhancement was seen in all 6 tumorsthat underwent contrast enhanced MR examination. All tumorsshowed areas of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images andheterogeneous enhancement, except the 2 largest tumors withoutpathologic fracture in the sacrum. Intervertebral discs werepreserved in all tumors.CONCLUSION The MR imaging features that suggestplasmacytoma of the spine include predominant intermediatesignal intensity on T2-weighted images, curvilinear low signalintensity structures, moderate to strong enhancement, relativelyhomogeneous appearance if there are no pathologic fracture andpreservation of the intervertebral discs.