Clinical History: 28-year old woman with chest and upper back pain for 3 months

Diagnosis: Thoracic spine schwannoma

 MR Technique:

Imaging of the thoracic spine was performed on a 3T MR system. (A) Sagittal T1-weighted TSE (TR/TE 650/8.1ms), (B) sagittal T2-weighted TSE (TR/TE 2000/97), (C) sagittal T2-weighted TSE images with Dixon fat suppression (TR/TE2500/101), and (D) axial T2-weighted TSE images with spectral fat saturation (TR/TE 4290/96) were acquired before the administration of intravenous contrast. Thereafter, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted TSE (TR/TE 600-757/8.1-11ms) images were acquired in three orthogonal planes with Dixon fat suppression (E, F, G).

Imaging Findings:

An extramedullary, intradural mass is noted within the central thoracic spinal canal at the T2-3 level measuring 26 mm (L) x 15 mm (W) x 10 mm (H). The lesion is less conspicuous on the pre-contrast images with mild hypointensity on T1 and hyperintensity on T2WI relative to the spinal cord. However, the cord is displaced posteriorly by the lesion with marked enlargement of the intradural space. After injection of contrast, the tumor exhibits predominantly homogenous enhancement with small non-enhancing foci, likely reflecting calcifications or cysts. No dural tail or extraspinal extension are identified on the post-contrast images.