Abstract: Objective: To investigate the MRI features of spinal angiolioma. Methods: The MRI features of 8 surgically proved cases of spinal angiolipoma were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Six of the 8 cases of spinal angiolipoma were spinal epidural angiolipoma, 1 case was intramedullary angiolipoma, and 1 case was intradural extra-medullary angio-lipoma. The accuracy of MRI for diagnosing the location of angiolipoma was 100%. Five cases were diagnosed as angio-lipoma and 3 cases were diagnosed as benign tumor. Spinal epidural angiolipoma was presented as shuttle in shape, some cases locating at intervertebral foramens were dumb-bell in shape and adjacent intervertebral foramens were enlarged. The compressed dura mater appeared as linear structures with low signal intensity on MR images obtained with all sequences.The cavitas subarachnoidealis was narrow on affected level. The intramedullary angiolipoma was presented as oval structure and both ends of the spinal cord were cup mouth in shape. The intradural extra-medullary angiolipoma shaped like a crescent, the dura mater was not compressed but the cavitas subarachnoidealis was narrow. The MRI signals: isointense or hyperintense signals on T1WI and T2WI, 7 caseshad signals increased and one decreased on STIR; while 4 cases showed mild contrast enhancement, 3 cases had moderate enhancement, 1 case had intense enhancement on enhanced MRI; the intense was even in 6 cases and uneven in 2 cases. Conclusions: Spinal angiolipoma is mostly extradural, intramedullary and intradural extra-medullary are rare. The size, morphology, MRI signal of angiolipoma and the association with adjacent structure can be clearly displayed on MRI. MRI has good diagnostic value for the location and identification of angiolipoma.

Key words: Spinal angiolipoma, Magnetic resonance imaging, Diagnosis