Spinal intramedullary granulocytic sarcoma: magnetic resonance imaging.

A rare case of spinal intramedullary granulocytic sarcoma (GS) in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia is described along with its magnetic resonance (MR) finding. The mass shows isointense signal on T1-weighted images, and slightly higher intensity on T2-weighted images. Contrast enhancement with gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA in this case differs from the other report in which the tumor was not enhanced. As MRI becomes the first choice in the evaluation of spinal tumors, high index of suspicion of GS with familiarity with its MR finding in leukemic patients may obviate the need for surgical intervention, since the tumor is sensitive to both radiation and chemotherapy.