Intracranial metastases: spectrum of MR imaging findings

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Intracranial metastatic lesions are common and can affect any part of the central nervous system.
• Metastases present with diverse imaging appearances depending on their location and route of spread.
• Accurate detection and characterization are crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a pictorial review of intracranial metastatic lesions based on their anatomical location.
• To highlight the utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in diagnosing and characterizing these lesions.
• To discuss advanced MRI techniques for differentiating metastases from other intracranial pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging findings of various intracranial metastatic lesions.
• Categorization of lesions by location: intra-axial, calvarial, dural, leptomeningeal, and others.
• Discussion of advanced MRI sequences and their role in differential diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Intracranial metastases manifest in numerous ways, affecting different CNS compartments.
• MRI is essential for identifying lesion extent and distinguishing metastases from primary brain tumors, abscesses, and radiation changes.
• Specific imaging features aid in differentiating metastatic disease from other conditions.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive understanding of the varied appearances of intracranial metastases is vital for radiologists.
• Advanced MRI techniques are indispensable for accurate diagnosis and characterization of intracranial metastases.
• This pictorial review serves as a guide to recognizing the diverse spectrum of intracranial metastatic disease.