Cerebrospinal fluid flow artifact a possible pitfall on fast-spin-echo MR imaging of the spine simulating intradural pathology

We have noted that fast-spin-echo T2-weighted images of the cervical and thoracic regions of the spine can produce low-signal artifacts in the spinal subarachnoid space which might be misinterpreted as tumor or abnormal vascular flow voids. These are possibly related to complex cerebrospinal fluid pulsatile flow and should be recognized as artifactual by the radiologist.