Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 27, 2026
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Imaging features of intracranial psammomatous meningioma
1Department of radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 270 Dongan Rd, 200032 Shanghai, China.
Purpose:
This study was conducted to describe the imaging features of intracranial psammomatous meningioma (IPM).
Materials And Methods:
Twenty-three patients with a histopathological diagnosis of IPM between January 2007 and August 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-two patients underwent contrast-enhanced MRI scanning, and 16 underwent non-enhanced CT.
Results:
A total of 23 adult patients (3 men, 20 women; mean age, 55.3±7.0 years) with 30 IPMs, including 3 patients with multiple IPMs, were recruited. Twenty tumours (66.7%) were located at the cerebral convexity. The mean size of the lesions was 2.42±0.92cm (range, 1.2-4.8cm). All tumours had a regular shape. On CT scans, 13 masses (13/22) were totally replaced with calcifications, and calcifications were observed in 21 cases (21/22) with higher density. There were 22 cases (22/30) of IPMs presenting adjacent hyperostosis, while 8 cases (8/30) presented no skull changes that were not close to the skull. Nearly half of the cases (14/29) showed mixed hypo- and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images and DWI. PTBE was present in 8 tumours and absent in the other 22, among which only 4 tumours were accompanied by severe oedema.
Conclusions:
These radiological findings may facilitate correct diagnosis for IPMs and thus presurgical planning, prognosis evaluation and treatment of meningiomas.
Insights
Intracranial psammomatous meningiomas (IPMs) often present with calcifications and adjacent hyperostosis on CT and MRI. These imaging features aid in diagnosing IPMs, guiding treatment, and predicting prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroradiology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors.
- Psammomatous meningiomas (IPMs) are a subtype characterized by psammoma bodies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate the characteristic imaging features of intracranial psammomatous meningioma (IPM).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 23 patients with histopathologically confirmed IPM.
- Analysis of contrast-enhanced MRI (22 patients) and non-enhanced CT (16 patients) findings.
Main Results:
- 30 IPMs in 23 adult patients (mean age 55.3 years); 66.7% located at the cerebral convexity.
- CT revealed extensive calcifications (66.7%) and adjacent hyperostosis (73.3%).
- MRI showed mixed T2/DWI signal intensity in 48.3% of lesions; peritumoral edema was infrequent (13.3%).
Conclusions:
- Characteristic radiological findings of IPMs include calcifications and hyperostosis.
- Accurate diagnosis of IPMs on imaging aids in surgical planning and prognosis.
- Understanding these imaging patterns is crucial for differentiating IPMs from other meningioma subtypes.
