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Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors: MR appearance
1Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0628.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs) are benign brain tumors associated with seizures. MRI reveals characteristic features, aiding in diagnosis but not differentiating from other low-grade tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) is a rare, benign brain tumor.
- DNTs are strongly associated with chronic, often intractable, partial complex seizures.
- This study reviews the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of DNTs.
Observation:
- Six patients with pathologically confirmed DNT underwent MR imaging.
- Tumors were located in the supratentorial cortex, primarily the temporal lobe.
- MR imaging revealed focal cortical masses with specific signal intensities on T1, T2, and proton density sequences.
Findings:
- DNTs present as focal cortical masses with low T1 and high T2 signal intensity, resembling cerebrospinal fluid.
- Some lesions showed enhancement after gadolinium-DTPA administration.
- Tumor margins were well-circumscribed, occasionally remodeling the adjacent skull.
Implications:
- Characteristic MR features suggest DNT in the differential diagnosis of seizure-related brain lesions.
- While suggestive, MR imaging cannot reliably differentiate DNTs from low-grade astrocytomas or gangliogliomas.
- Increased signal intensity on proton density images warrants further investigation in the appropriate clinical context.