Fig. 10

Origin and extent of the paraspinal tumours. Myoepithelial soft tissue tumour of paraspinal muscles in a 52-year-old male (with acute thoracic back pain) that secondary invades the 3rd thoracic vertebra and the 2nd, the 3rd and the 4th ribs (a, b, c). Sagittal T2WI (a) and axial T1WI with contrast agent (b) show a paraspinal tumour with an epicentre in epaxial muscles (star). Arrows show tumour’s spread towards the opposite side (A), into the bone (D), into the epidural space (C) via the intervertebral foramen (B), in the pleura (F) via the intercostal space (F). Postoperative anteroposterior radiograph shows a lysis of the 3rd and 4th vertebras (white arrowheads). The ribs were removed. Chondrosarcoma of the pedicle-transverse part of L3, that secondary invades the hypaxial and epaxial muscles, in a 62-year-old male (d, e). Axial CT reconstruction (d) and axial T2WI (e) show a mass with a cartilage matrix including calcifications (white arrows, (d)) and high T2WI intensity (e). The mass presents aggressive bone lysis (arrowheads) surrounded by inflammation (red dashed line). Posteroanterior radiograph of the surgical sample of vertebrectomy and pelvic resection (f) shows a shadow and calcification (arrows) and lysis of the vertebral body and transverse process of L3 (arrowhead)