Objective:To analyse the findings of MRI and CT in the diagnosis of spine metastases in 52 cases

and compare their sensitivity and specificity

in order to increase the early diagnosis rate of spinal metastases.Methods:The most common sources of skeletal metastases were carcinomas of lung

breast

nasopharynx.MRI and CT were performed in 52 patients with metastatic tumor.The detectability for vertebral metastasis was compared between the two modalities.Results:Of the 52 cases

there were destructions of 176 vertebral bodies

76 lesions of spinal canal involvement

68 paravertebral soft tissue.masses and pathological fractures of 47 vertebral bodies.In the cases of stage Ⅰ spinal metastases:21 were detected by MRI and nothing was detected by CT.In the cases of stage Ⅱspinal metastases:86 were detected by MRI;52 were detected by CT.In the cases of stage Ⅲ spinal metastases:68 were detected by MRI;61 were detected by CT.The sensitivity of spinal metastases by MRI(99.4%) higher than CT(64.2%).MRI demonstrated decreased signal intensity(86.9%)and other abnormal signal intensity(13.1%)on T1WI and increased signal intensity(60.8%)and other abnormal signal intensity(39.2%)on T2WI.Conclusion:The sensitivity and specificity of MRI is higher than that of CT.Two methods are complementary to each other

so MRI combined with CT can improve the sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of spinal metastases.