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Intracranial meningiomas: correlations between MR imaging and histology
F Maiuri1, G Iaconetta, O de Divitiis
1Institute of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Clinica Neurochirurgica, Facoltá di Medina e Chiruriga, Universita degli Studi Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Abstract:
The authors have examined the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathological features in 35 surgically verified intracranial meningiomas. Tumor signals on T1-weighted images were rather similar regardless of the histologic subtype of the tumors. On T2-weighted images, hypointense meningiomas were mainly fibroblastic and hyperintense tumors were mainly syncytial and angioblastic, and partly transitional. Isointense tumors were mainly transitional and partly fibroblastic and syncytial. The authors conclude that the signal intensity of the MRI may be useful in the preoperative characterization of intracranial meningiomas. T1-weighted images may predict the presence of cysts and intratumoral blood vessels; whereas T2-weighted images can give information about histological subtype, vascularity and consistency. Meningiomas hyperintense to the cortex on T2 are usually soft, more vascular and more frequently of syncytial or angioblastic subtype; tumors hypointense or hypo-isointense on T2 tend to have a more hard consistency and are more often of fibroblastic or transitional subtype.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help differentiate intracranial meningiomas. T2-weighted MRI signals correlate with tumor subtype, vascularity, and consistency, aiding preoperative diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Intracranial meningiomas are common primary tumors of the central nervous system.
- Accurate preoperative characterization of meningiomas is crucial for surgical planning and patient management.
- Histopathological subtypes of meningiomas exhibit diverse clinical and radiological features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal characteristics and histopathological features of intracranial meningiomas.
- To determine the utility of MRI in predicting tumor subtype, vascularity, and consistency.
- To assess the value of T1- and T2-weighted MRI sequences in preoperative meningioma characterization.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 35 surgically verified intracranial meningiomas.
- Correlation of MRI findings (T1- and T2-weighted images) with histopathological subtypes.
- Evaluation of signal intensities relative to brain cortex and assessment of tumor characteristics like cysts and vascularity.
Main Results:
- T1-weighted images showed similar tumor signals across histologic subtypes.
- T2-weighted images revealed distinct signal patterns: hypointense tumors were predominantly fibroblastic, hyperintense tumors were syncytial/angioblastic, and isointense tumors were transitional.
- Hyperintense T2 tumors were soft, vascular, and syncytial/angioblastic; hypointense/hypo-isointense T2 tumors were hard and fibroblastic/transitional.
Conclusions:
- MRI signal intensity, particularly on T2-weighted images, is a valuable tool for preoperative characterization of intracranial meningiomas.
- T1-weighted MRI can predict the presence of cysts and intratumoral vessels.
- T2-weighted MRI provides insights into histological subtype, vascularity, and tumor consistency, aiding in surgical planning.