A pattern approach to the differential diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord lesions on MR imaging.

T his pictorial essay presents an approach to the differential diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord lesions identified on MR imaging. Intramedullary lesions have been subdivided into six patterns defined on TI-weighted images before and after administration of gadolinium and on T2-weighted images. The most common lesions associated with each pattern are listed. and specific clinical and imaging findings helpful in differentiating one lesion from another are discussed.