Flame sign (spinal cord metastasis)

The flame sign has been described as a helpful MRI sign of spinal cord metastases, enabling them to be distinguished from other enhancing spinal cord lesions (e.g. ependymoma, astrocytoma and hemangioblastoma) .

Radiographic features

MRI

The flame sign is seen on sagittal post contrast T1 weighted imaging of the spinal cord and appears as an ill-defined triangular extension of enhancement above and/or below the lesion (continuous with the rim sign) .