脊髄神経鞘腫に対するCTの診断的価値

Diagnostic Value of CT in Spinal Neurinomas

I．はじめに

　脊髄神経鞘腫は髄膜腫とともに脊髄良性腫瘍の大部分を占め，早期に発見されれば外科的処置により完治も望みうる^{3,12,15,19,21）}．ことに日本^10）や中国^4）の統計によれば，欧米のそれ^3,15,18）に比べ神経鞘腫の発生頻度は3倍以上に達し，さらに注意して検索すれば不可逆的な神経損傷が起こる前に，より多くの患者を発見し治療できるものと，思われる．

　CT器械の最近の進歩により，脊髄神経鞘腫に対するCT診断法もいくつか発表されてはいるが，造影法，撮影条件，あるいは他の腫瘍との鑑別法に関しての詳細な報告は少ない^{2,11,13,14,17）}．

The computed tomography (CT) in examination of the spine and spinal cord has rapidly advanced and its diagnostic value has been well documented. It is widely accepted that CT is very useful for the diagnosis of the spinal neurinomas, especially of dumb-bell tumors. In the last two years we have experienced with 11 cases of spinal neurinomas. These include 1 accessory neurinoma, 7 cervical neurinomas of dumb-bell type, 2 thoracic dumb-hell neurinomas, 1 intra-dural neurinoma in the conus medullaris and multiple neurofibromas in the cauda equina in one patient. The age distributed from 24 to 52 years, with an average of 41.5.