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Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter
Published on: December 19, 2017
Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of pediatric pilocytic astrocytoma
Valentina Opancina1,2, Silvia Esposito3, Francesco Di Meco4,5,6
1Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
Purpose:
MRI has an important role in diagnosing pilocytic astrocytoma and post-surgical follow-up since the surgical approach has a leading role in its treatment. The purpose of our study is to provide an overview of the typical and atypical MRI findings in a series of pediatric patients with isolated-not NF1-related-pilocytic astrocytomas and to correlate specific MRI patterns with clinical variables.
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional retrospective study providing the analysis of several clinical and neuroradiological findings from a cohort of pediatric pilocytic astrocytoma, starting from the data collected in the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (FINCB) internal Cancer Registry during an 11-year time period (January 2008-January 2019).
Results:
Fifty-six patients were included in the study. Median age at diagnosis was 9.4 years; a slight female prevalence was noticed (m/f ratio 44.6%/55.4%). The majority of pPAs had well-defined contours: 51 (91.1%), 47 (88.7%) were hypointense on T1-wi, all of them were hyperintense on T2-wi, 46 (90.2%) were hyperintense on FLAIR, and 48 (85.7%) were heterogeneous on T1-wi and T2-wi sequences. We found positive correlation between pPAs location and age (r = 0.017), and small degree of connection between pPAs location and gender (Cramer's V = 0.268).
Conclusions:
We presented typical and atypical pPAs MRI findings. Age and tumor location were positevely correlated, while degree of connection between gender and pPAs location was small. All of this may aid clinicians, most of all neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, and neurologists in proper diagnoses and follow-up of these specific patient population.
Insights
This study details MRI findings in pediatric pilocytic astrocytomas (pPAs), finding correlations between tumor location, age, and gender. These insights aid in diagnosing and monitoring pPAs.
Area of Science:
- Neuroradiology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Pilocytic astrocytomas (pPAs) are common pediatric brain tumors.
- MRI is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring pPAs, especially after surgery.
- Understanding typical and atypical MRI features is key for accurate diagnosis and patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of typical and atypical MRI findings in pediatric pilocytic astrocytomas (pPAs).
- To correlate specific MRI patterns with clinical variables in non-NF1 related pPAs.
- To assist clinicians in the diagnosis and follow-up of pediatric pPAs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study analyzing clinical and neuroradiological data.
- Inclusion of pediatric patients diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma (pPA) between January 2008 and January 2019.
- Data sourced from the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (FINCB) internal Cancer Registry.
Main Results:
- Fifty-six pediatric patients with pPAs were analyzed.
- The majority of pPAs showed well-defined contours and specific signal intensities on T1-wi, T2-wi, and FLAIR sequences.
- A positive correlation was found between pPA location and patient age (r = 0.017).
Conclusions:
- Typical and atypical MRI findings for pediatric pilocytic astrocytomas (pPAs) were presented.
- Age and tumor location showed a positive correlation.
- These findings can aid neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, and neurologists in the diagnosis and follow-up of pediatric pPAs.
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