Tumors of cerebral hemispheres

Pediatric brain tumors are substantially represented by neuroepithelial neoplasms. If intraventricular tumors are excluded, diagnostic imaging can be referred to 3 main types: gliomas, neuronal and mixed tumors, embryonal tumors. Following a short review of the various neuroimaging procedures, CT and MRI findings of most common pediatric hemispheric neoplasms, are described. Neuroradiologic findings supply a satisfactory "characterization" of the neoplasm. They are at times so specific as to achieve a univocal diagnostic hypothesis. More frequently, only a likely histologic hypothesis is achieved based on the combination of neuroimaging and clinical findings. Finally, the role of diagnostic imaging is underlined, being important in the definition of the relationships between hemispheric tumors with some "critical" areas, because of "functional" relevance, and in the identification of the site and pattern of infiltration which impact on prognosis and treatment.