Spinal peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors: a radiological study of ten cases

AIM: To summarize the imaging features of spinal peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (spPNET) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of 10 spPNET patients, four men and six women, were retrospectively analyzed, and their clinicopathological data were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 24.7 years (range, 3-44 years). Ten spPNET lesions were found in the ten patients, including six extradural and four intradural extramedullary lesions. Radiologically, spPNET typically presented as heterogeneous isointense lesions with a heterogeneously enhanced pattern. A "vault wall-like growth" pattern, a linear enhancement pattern, and vertebral bone involvement tended to be found in the extradural lesions, whereas a ring enhancement pattern was found in the extramedullary intradural lesions. Positive Ki-67 expression might be related to necrosis, bone destruction, and hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: A well-defined spinal mass showing isointensity/attenuation with heterogeneous enhancement accompanied by other imaging features may be suggestive of spPNET and should be added to the list of differential diagnosis.