Extradural Spine

One of the major successes of modern intravenous (IV) contrast–enhanced MRI is its ability in most cases to focus a disease process to a particular spinal compartment: intramedullary, intradural-extramedullary, extradural (i.e., epidural), and mixed. This is an important concept because this knowledge will assist in narrowing the differential-diagnostic possibilities and help direct specific additional diagnostic procedures—e.g., needle biopsy (aspiration) or surgical therapies. While other chapters will elaborate the findings in each one of these compartments, the present chapter will discuss extradural disease of the spine (Table A8.0.1).