Related Experiment Videos
MR manifestations of subependymomas
C Hoeffel1, M Boukobza, M Polivka
1Department of Neuroradiology and Therapeutic Angiography, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Subependymomas are rare tumors that can appear on MRI. Consider subependymoma in the differential diagnosis for intraventricular or spinal lesions with minimal or no enhancement on MRI.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Subependymomas are rare, slow-growing tumors arising from the ependymal layer.
- They typically occur in the ventricles of the brain or the spinal cord.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the magnetic resonance (MR) and enhanced MR imaging characteristics of subependymomas.
- To aid in the diagnosis of subependymomas based on their imaging features.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of eight pathologically confirmed subependymoma cases.
- Correlation with surgical and pathological findings.
- Review of previously published MR imaging studies of subependymomas.
- Gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MR imaging in seven cases.
Main Results:
- Subependymomas were found intraventricularly or in the cervical spine.
- On T1-weighted images, they were isointense to hypointense relative to white matter, often heterogeneous.
- Enhancement varied from minimal/none (four cases) to moderate/marked (three cases).
Conclusions:
- No single imaging sign is pathognomonic for subependymoma.
- Consider subependymoma in cases of intraventricular or spinal lesions with minimal or no associated edema and minimal or no contrast enhancement.