J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2006 Sep;13(3):210-214. 10.4184/jkss.2006.13.3.210.

Efficacy of Enhanced MRI in Epidural Varix: Report of Six Cases

• Choi S
• Kim KY
• Lee S
• Yoon S

• KMID: 2209644
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2006.13.3.210

Abstract

Symptomatic epidural varix presenting with radiculopathy is extremely rare. The most common misdiagnosis is reported as a sequestrated prolapsed nucleus pulposus in the preoperative evaluation. The method of evaluating enhanced MRI studies improved the efficacy of discovery and treatment of this condition. We experienced 6 cases of epidural varices that were diagnosed with T1 fat suppressed post-gadolinium enhanced MRI studies and we present the operative findings.

Keyword

Disc; enhanced MRI; Epidural varix

MeSH Terms

Diagnostic Errors
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Radiculopathy
Varicose Veins*

Figure

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  Fig. 1. (A, B) T1 sagittal and axial image, L3 body posterior, intermediate signal 0.5×1CM thecal sac compressing fusiform mass.

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  Fig. 2. (A) T1 sagittal image, L3/4, intermediate signal extruded, caudal migrated mass. (B) T1 fat-suppresed post-gadolini-um enhanced sagittal image, enhanced mass with serpiginous dilated vein.

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  Fig. 3. (A) T1 sagittal image, L4 body posterior, intermediate signal fusiform mass, L4/5 disc protrusion. (B) T1 fat-supp-resed post-gadolinium enhanced sagittal image, L4 body posterior enhanced around the mass. (C) T1 enhanced axial image, Rt paracentral disc-like intermediate signal. At the central cephalad direction, low signal mass with enhanced, communicating L4 body. Serpiginous dilated vein, prominent lumbar segmental veins was seen.

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