[Cerebral tumours: which images?]

Magnetic resonance imaging became the gold standard examination of pretherapeutic planning and post-treatment follow-up of cerebral tumours, even if computed tomography remains useful. During the last years, many new modalities of magnetic resonance examination arose, thus leading to increase its specificity. Then, spectroscopy allows better understanding of tumoural metabolism, whereas perfusion weighted imaging provides informations on its neovascularisation. Functional cortical activation imaging and diffusion tensor imaging allows delineation of tumoural extension towards eloquent areas and fiber bundles. Last, peroperative magnetic resonance imaging may lead to better control tumour resection during operation. However, while numerous and increasing the specificity of magnetic resonance examination, confrontation to pathology data remains necessary.