American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 158, 859-865, Copyright © 1992 by American Roentgen Ray Society

ARTICLES

MR imaging features of medulloblastomas

SP Meyers, SS Kemp and RW Tarr
Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213.

The preoperative MR studies of 25 patients with surgically proved medulloblastomas were retrospectively reviewed in order to characterize these neoplasms with regard to their MR signal intensity, size, location, and appearance after contrast enhancement. Gadopentetate dimeglumine--enhanced MR images were available in 11 patients. On short TR/short TE images, medulloblastomas generally had low to intermediate signal, and were predominantly slightly hyperintense relative to muscle and hypointense relative to white matter. On long TR/long TE images, medulloblastomas generally had intermediate to moderately high signal, predominantly hyperintense relative to muscle and white matter. Tumor signal relative to gray matter varied considerably on both short TR and long TR images. Signal heterogeneity on long TR/long TE images was observed in 91% of the lesions and resulted from intratumoral cystic zones, small blood vessels, and/or calcifications. In the patients who received gadopentetate dimeglumine, the fraction of tumor volume showing enhancement was found to be less than one third in two cases, between one third and two thirds in four cases, and greater than two thirds in five cases. The mean tumor size was 3.6 x 4.0 x 3.5 cm. The most frequent location of medulloblastoma was the mid and inferior vermis. We conclude that the unenhanced and enhanced MR characteristics of medulloblastomas are somewhat variable. Medulloblastomas should be included in the differential diagnosis when the MR findings described are present in the appropriate patient population.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S.P. Meyers, Z.P. Khademian, J.A. Biegel, S.H. Chuang, D.N. Korones, and R.A. Zimmerman Primary intracranial atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors of infancy and childhood: MRI features and patient outcomes. AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2006; 27(5): 962 - 971. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. K. Koeller and E. J. Rushing From the Archives of the AFIP: Medulloblastoma: A Comprehensive Review with Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation RadioGraphics, November 1, 2003; 23(6): 1613 - 1637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Lopez-Alberola, M. Bhattacharjee, J. Borne, and D. A. Lee Atypical Features of Medulloblastoma on Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Case Report and Review of the Literature J Child Neurol, January 1, 2003; 18(1): 64 - 67. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Majos, J. Alonso, C. Aguilera, M. Serrallonga, J. J. Acebes, C. Arus, and J. Gili Adult Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor: Proton MR Spectroscopic Findings with Possible Application for Differential Diagnosis Radiology, November 1, 2002; 225(2): 556 - 566. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Naitoh, T. Sasajima, H. Kinouchi, S. Mikawa, and K. Mizoi Medulloblastoma with Extensive Nodularity: Single Photon Emission CT Study with Iodine-123 Metaiodobenzylguanidine AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., October 1, 2002; 23(9): 1564 - 1567. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Bonneville, J.-L. Sarrazin, K. Marsot-Dupuch, C. Iffenecker, Y.-S. Cordoliani, D. Doyon, and J.-F. Bonneville Unusual Lesions of the Cerebellopontine Angle: A Segmental Approach RadioGraphics, March 1, 2001; 21(2): 419 - 438. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Zagzag, D. C. Miller, E. Knopp, J.-P. Farmer, M. Lee, S. Biria, A. Pellicer, F. J. Epstein, and J. C. Allen Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors of the Brainstem: Investigation of Seven Cases Pediatrics, November 1, 2000; 106(5): 1045 - 1053. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. P. Meyers, S. L. Wildenhain, J.-K. Chang, E. C. Bourekas, P. F. Beattie, D. N. Korones, D. Davis, I. F. Pollack, and R. A. Zimmerman Postoperative Evaluation for Disseminated Medulloblastoma Involving the Spine: Contrast-enhanced MR Findings, CSF Cytologic Analysis, Timing of Disease Occurrence, and Patient Outcomes AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., October 1, 2000; 21(9): 1757 - 1765. [Abstract] [Full Text]