T-SLIP MRI was applied to the following 6 consecutive cystic lesions of the spinal cord: 3 SEACs, 1 SIAC, 1 spinal intramedullary cyst associated with adhesive arachnoiditis, and 1 chronic pseudomeningocele. Information obtained by T-SLIP MRI was evaluated with regard to the following: 1) whether exclusive pathologic information was obtained, 2) whether this information affected the therapeutic strategy, and 3) the time required for T-SLIP MRI.
Exclusive information was obtained in all 6 cases. In SEACs and the intramedullary cyst, pathologic CSF flow into the cyst was directly visualized, enabling us to narrow the therapeutic intervention targets. In SIAC, exclusive information involved detection of the cystic cranial wall and the absence of the caudal wall, enabling us to omit the exploration of the caudal wall. The examination required as long as 80 minutes for SIAC and <30 minutes for the other cases.
T-SLIP MRI is useful for obtaining pathologic information about cystic lesions of the spinal cord.