AJR 2000;174:417-424
Llauger J., Palmer J., Amores S., Bague S., Camins A.
Primary benign and malignant tumors of the sacrum are rare lesions that account for fewer than 7% of all intraspinal primary tumors [1, 2]. Metastatic lesions, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma are far more common than primary sacral tumors. Patients with sacral tumors present with nonspecific symptoms, including pain, palpable mass, and neurologic deficits. The purpose of CT and MR imaging is to define the anatomic origin, extent, and radiologic features of a given lesion. Although the differential diagnosis for a sacral tumor is extensive, various primary neoplasms have characteristic features on CT scans and MR imaging that may aid in making a diagnosis. In this article we discuss and illustrate the most common primary tumors that affect the sacrum. Our purpose is to interpret the imaging features of these lesions and to emphasize the correlation between the radiologic presentation and the pathologic findings.