Masses at the craniovertebral junction generally have serious prognostic implications. However, the authors studied three patients who had chronic atlantoaxial subluxation from either degenerative disease or congenital dysplasia of the dens and who also had benign fibrous masses in this region, confirmed at surgery. The association of masses of the craniovertebral junction with chronic atlantoaxial subluxation raises the possibility that the underlying cause of the masses is chronic mechanical irritation. All patients were imaged with metrizamide myelography and adjunctive computed tomography (CT), then by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MR images were not only superior to myelograms and CT scans in delineating the exact extent of the lesions, they also indicated the benign, fibrous nature of the masses.

No abstract

Twenty histologically verified intracranial and upper cervical chordomas were retrospectively studied with both magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT), and the advantages of each modality were compared with regard to three criteria: detection of tumor, delineation of extent of tumor, and characterization of tumor. MR imaging and CT were equivalent in permitting the detection of chordomas. MR imaging was considerably better in delineating the full extent of the tumor, which would influence establishment of treatment. MR imaging also provided a degree of histologic specificity that would be useful in prognosis.

No abstract