Spinal lesions: quantitative and qualitative temporal evolution of gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement in MR imaging.

Seventy gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging studies were reviewed, and 36 were selected for quantitative and qualitative analysis of the temporal evolution of contrast medium enhancement of spinal lesions. In the extradural space, lesions often showed mild increase of enhancement on delayed images, but enhancement was always visible on immediate postcontrast images. In the intradural extramedullary space, tumor nodules demonstrated most prominent enhancement on early images, although subtle, strandlike enhancement of the nerve roots showed some delayed uptake of contrast medium on later images. In the intramedullary space, enhancement often increased on delayed images, although this increase was usually mild. For clinical purposes, immediate postcontrast imaging should be sufficient to depict the majority of spinal lesions, regardless of location. However, selected cases, such as necrotic spinal cord tumors, will require delayed imaging.