MRI of the lumbar spine demonstrates soft tissue intensity material replacing the normal bone marrow signal of the L5 vertebral body (both body and posterior elements) with extension of this soft tissue mass into the canal resulting in significant cauda equina compression.
Following administration of contrast the mass enhances uniformly.
The appearances favour lymphoma with a differential including metastatic disease or primary sarcoma of the bone, although both are thought unlikely due to the preservation of the bony outlines.