Table 3.

Suggested MRI and CT structured report for paraspinal lesions

MRI reporting
Size
Location  Epicentre: Epaxial/hypaxial  Segmental longitudinal extension
Matrix  Fat content (high signal on both T1 and T2WI)  Myxoid content (fluid-like signal intensity; enhancement)  Fibrous content (low signal on both T1 and T2WI)  Haemorrhagic content (signal change with evolving breakdown products; Blooming artefact of T2WI)  Necrotic or cystic
Bone involvement (vertebra, rib)  Suggestive signs of reactive inflammatory changes or vertebral invasion: cortical abutment and disappearance of paravertebral fat on T1WI, enhancement on T1WI fat-suppressed, periosteal signal change,  Bone tumour invasion: low signal on both fat-suppressed T2WI and T1WI, scalloping  when present, details the tumour extension within the different parts of the bone
Relationship with spinal nerve and intervertebral foramen  Fat plane (high intensity on T1WI) separating the neurovascular pedicle and the tumour  Extension into the intervertebral foramen  Foramen enlargement
Locoregional invasion of adjacent compartments or organs  Pleura  Posterior mediastinum  Retroperitoneum  Epidural space  Skip metastasis

Scanner reporting
Tumour size, location, matrix
Bone involvement (vertebra, rib)  Suggestive of a tumour process: bone lysis (geographics, sclerotic, permeative)  Suggestive of mimics: erosions, calcifications, osteodystrophy  Foramen enlargement
Distant extension—invasion of others compartments or organs  Multiple lesions  Invasion to adjacent compartments or organs  Lymph nodes status  Distant metastatic disease (for malignant and metastasising tumours)