Lipomeningioma: case report and review of the literature

We present a case of histologically confirmed lipomeningioma, the first to our knowledge reported in Australia. A 61-year-old man presented with seizures and confusion, and was found to have a non-enhancing left extra axial temporo-parietal lesion on CT and MRI scan. On MRI, the mass lesion showed hyper-intensity on the T1 weighted images, hypo-intensity on fat suppressed T2 weighted images and no enhancement with intravenous gadolinium, indicating a mass consisting predominately of fatty tissue. A subsequent CT also showed the mass lesion to be hypodense with Hounsfield units indicating fatty tissue. A durally based tumour with high fat content macroscopically was excised at craniotomy under ultrasound guidance. Post-operative recovery was uneventful. Histology demonstrated a meningioma with high lipid content in the form of mature adipocytes and without atypical features. While not exceedingly rare, fewer than 30 cases of lipomeningioma, lipomatous meningioma, or lipidised meningioma have been reported in the world literature.     

A case of chronic progressive radiation myelopathy--a diagnostic significance of gadolinium-DTPA enhancement MRI

A 65-year-old man had a biopsy diagnosis of right cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Post operative irradiation (4000 rads) was given to the bilateral cervical areas. Twenty five months after completion of irradiation, the patient developed muscle weakness in the right upper and lower extremities, and sensory disturbance below the C2 level in the left side, which was considered as Brown-Séquard syndrome. MRI of T1 weighted images (T1W1) showed mild swelling of the spinal cord from C1 to C6, while T2 weighted images (T2W1) revealed high intensity area at the same level. Gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA injection revealed ring enhancement in the right side of the spinal cord from C1 to C2 on sagittal and axial images. The neurological symptoms improved after the administration of corticosteroid. Two weeks after the therapy, a follow-up study revealed disappearance of cervical cord swelling on T1W1 and high intensity area was remarkably diminished on T2W1. Gd-DTPA enhancement, however, showed unremarkable change. Gd-DTPA enhancement was suggested to be a sensitive and valuable diagnostic method of CPRM.     

脊髓转移瘤的MRI诊断

目的 探讨脊髓转移瘤(ISCM)的MRI特征及其病理机制,以提高对该病的认识.方法 搜集15例经手术病理证实及临床确诊的ISCM,回顾性分析其MRI表现.全部病例均行MRI平扫及钆喷替酸葡甲胺(Gd-DTPA)增强扫描.结果 15例转移瘤均为单发,位于颈髓3例,胸髓5例,胸腰段脊髓圆锥部7例.MRI表现:T1WI呈等信号12例,低信号3例;T2WI呈高信号14例.等信号1例;增强扫描肿瘤均呈明显强化,7例呈环形强化,4例结节状强化,4例不均匀强化.结论 ISCM的特征性MRI表现为脊髓内明显强化的环形或结节状病灶,结合临床病史可以明确诊断.     

Abnormal MR findings in the temporal lobe and basal ganglia along with vasospasm in a case of hemiballism associated with diabetes mellitus]

A 46-year-old woman with a nine-year history of diabetes mellitus (DM) without treatment had an acute onset of right hemiballism. For the treatment of hyperglycemia (random blood sugar 588 mg/dl) conventional insulin therapy was started, and HbA1c rapidly decreased from 16.3% to 8.8% over the first two months. During this period, there were no hypoglycemic symptoms or episodes, though amnesia appeared just after the insulin therapy was started. T1-weighted MRI showed hyperintensity in the left basal ganglia, which has been reported in many cases of chorea or ballism associated with DM. In addition, there were unique changes in the left temporal lobe, including transient contrast enhancement along the cortex followed by transient hyperintensity in the cortical-subcortical area on T2 weighted and FLAIR images, and then hyperintensity along the cortex on T1 weighted images and atrophy. These findings were thought to indicate a consecutive process, i.e., capillary hyperlucency followed mainly by vasogenic edema and then laminar necrosis. Similar MR findings were reported in hypoglycemic coma. MRA also revealed a transient vasospasm in the left MCA M1-M2 portions in this patient. These signal changes may have been related to the prolonged hyperglycemic state as well as blood sugar control that was too rapid.     

Contrast enhanced fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery MR imaging for diagnosing cerebral venous angioma: report of two cases]

It has been reported that contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequences were useful for detecting superficial abnormalities, such as meningeal disease, because they do not demonstrate contrast enhancement of cortical vessels with slow flow as do T1-weighted images. We reported the usefulness of contrast-enhanced FLAIR images to differentiate cerebral venous angioma from tumor in two patients. Case 1 was a 71-year-old man developed cortical hemorrhage. Post contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed an enhanced lesion around the hematoma, whereas contrast-enhanced FLAIR images showed no enhancement of the lesion, thus he was diagnosed as cortical hemorrhage from cerebral venous angioma. Case 2 was a 72-year-old woman, who was examined MR images because of the jugular foramen neurinoma. There was a T2-high-intensity lesion in the right frontal lobe, and post contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed an enhanced lesion in and around the T2-high-intensity lesion. Post-contrast FLAIR images showed no enhancement, and she was diagnosed as cerebral venous angioma. Contrast-enhanced fast FLAIR sequences was useful in differentiation between venous angiomas and tumors. Identification of these lesions was due to the flow-void phenomenon in vessels with slow-flowing blood such as venous angioma, which could not be differentiated from tumors on T1-weighted images.     

脑内神经元及神经元与神经胶质混合性肿瘤的MRI表现（附31例报告及文献复习）

目的 探讨脑内神经元及神经元神经胶质混合性肿瘤的MRI表现。方法 结合复习文献,尝试对31例经手术病理证实的脑内神经元及神经元神经胶质混合性肿瘤病例的MRI影像学特点进行分析。MRI检查采用GE Signa扫描机。31例病理结果,神经节胶质瘤11例,中枢神经细胞瘤15例,神经节细胞瘤3例,小脑发育不良性节细胞瘤2例。结果 神经节胶质瘤MRI表现T1加权像为低信号囊性闭快,T2加权像均为高信号。局部灰白质界限不清。注射Gd-DTPA后,囊壁及结节增强为主。中枢神经细胞瘤MRI可见T1WI呈不均匀等信号团块混杂有低信号,T2WI：部分为等信号,部分为高信号。注射Gd-DTPA：表现为非均匀增强。神经节细胞瘤MRI表现质子密度像或T2WI为等或稍高信号。T1WI为低信号。小脑发育不良性节细胞瘤MRI显像可见病变在T1WI为黑色,而在T2WI为白色,注射造影剂后无增强。病灶条纹状,边界清楚,无水肿。结论 神经元及神经元胶质混合性肿瘤为一类较少见的神经系统肿瘤,其最终诊断仍取决于组织学。但该类肿瘤的影像学表现中部分病例具有一定特点。根据这些特点,结合临床表现,有益于在术前做出正确诊断。     

Optic nerve and spinal cord manifestations of malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos disease)

A fatal case of malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos disease) with optic nerve and spinal cord involvement is described. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the optic nerve showed abnormal signal enhancement on fat suppressed T1 weighted images after intravenous meglumine gadopentetate infusion. On T2 weighted sagittal images, a sawtooth pattern was observed over seven vertebral segments of the spinal cord. On necropsy, a severe loss of myelinated nerve fibres in the left optic nerve was seen, with thrombotic obstruction of the central retinal artery. Spongy degeneration was observed in all levels of the spinal cord, with patchy and motheaten patterns caused by thromboses and endothelial proliferation in subarachnoid vessels. Findings on MRI were consistent with findings on pathological examination.     

Late onset postpartum eclampsia without pre-eclamptic prodromi: clinical and neuroradiological presentation in two patients

In two patients eclampsia started 9 days postpartum. Headache and visual disturbances preceded seizures but none of the classic pre-eclamptic signs oedema, proteinuria, and hypertension were present until shortly before seizure onset. Brain herniation (patient 1) and status epilepticus (patient 2) necessitated neurointensive care management. Brain MRI initially showed only frontal sulcal effacement in one patient but later showed white matter hyperintensities on T2 weighted images and a previously undescribed pattern of cortical-subcortical postgadolinium enhancement on T1 weighted images in both. Neurological deficits and MRI findings were reversed with therapy in both patients. It is concluded that late postpartum eclampsia can manifest without classic prodromi and that characteristic MRI findings may lag behind clinical manifestation.     

重T2加权灰阶反转成像对大垂体腺瘤视路的显示作用

目的 探讨重T2加权灰阶反转成像检查对大垂体腺瘤及其周围结构的显示作用。方法对15例术前有视力障碍的垂体瘤病人行重T2加权灰阶反转成像及常规T1加权成像，前者TR／TE为5800ms／259ms，后者为600ms／20ms；层厚3mm。结果 重T2加权灰阶反转成像可清晰显示肿瘤与终板、前连合及前交通动脉丛的空间关系；其视神经、视交叉和视束的检测率分别为93.3％、100％和86．7％，而在T1加权成像中则分别为66．7％、93．3％和66．7％，前者对视路的检测率显著性高于后者。结论 重T2加权灰阶反转成像可清楚显示垂体大腺瘤与视路的位置关系，有助于垂体瘤经颅手术的术前策略制定。     

A magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent differentiates between the vascular properties of fetal striatal tissue transplants and gliomas in rat brain in vivo

The tumors formed by rat C-6 glioma cells were isointense with the normal rat brain on precontrast T1 weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. Following i.v. peripheral administration of the MR imaging contrast agent gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA, there was no significant change in the signal intensity from normal brain tissue. However, the tumor appeared as areas of high signal intensity demonstrating the abnormal vascular properties of the tumor. Fetal rat striatal tissue transplanted into unlesioned adult rat striatum appeared isointense with the host brain on precontrast T1 weighted images and there was no evidence for enhancement of the transplanted tissue relative to host brain following i.v. administration of Gd-DTPA. Using this technique we found no evidence with respect to permeability of the contrast agent of an abnormal blood-brain barrier within the striatal transplant in vivo.     

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of intracranial chordomas

MR images of 5 patients with intracranial chordoma were evaluated and compared with those of other clival lesions (1 clival osteomyelitis, 1 metastatic clival tumor, 3 clival meningiomas). The MR examination was performed using a 0.5 T superconductive magnet, with approximately 10 mm section thickness, one average and a 256 x 256 matrix. T1 weighted images were obtained by inversion recovery (IR) with TR 2100-2500 msec, TI 600 msec and TE 40 msec. T2 weighted images were obtained by spin echo pulse sequence with TR 1800-2500 msec and TE 120 msec (long SE). In several cases, the spin echo pulse sequences with TR 1000 msec and TE 40 msec (short SE) were also done. Multiplaned images were obtained. Four of 5 intracranial chordomas were low in intensity compared to cerebral gray matter on T1 weighted images, and all of 5 chordomas were as high in intensity as cerebrospinal fluid or higher than that of cerebrospinal fluid on T2 weighted images. Clival fatty marrow is high intensity on T1 weighted images. Clival involvement by a tumor was a clearly demonstrated as disappearance of this high intensity in all cases. In two cases, the tumor extended to the retropharyngeal space and this was detected clearly on short SE image. Although clival fatty marrow was disappeared, osteomyelitis and metastatic tumor in clivus were iso-intense to cerebral gray matter on both T1 and T2 weighted images.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the neuraxis in direct continuity with a low‐grade glioma: A case report and review of the literature

Calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON) are presumed to be a non‐neoplastic reactive pathology, based on the frequent finding of granulomatous inflammation. To our knowledge, there are few reports of CAPNON in association with a neoplasm. Here, we report the case of a 62‐year‐old man presenting with headache, which was caused by CAPNON in the left cingulate gyrus. CT scan revealed a calcified mass exhibiting gradual growth and increasing peritumoral edema. MRI showed an intra‐axial hypointense mass on T1‐ and T2‐weighted images. Development of a peri‐lesional hyperintense lesion on T2‐weighted images suggested local edema or tumoral invasion. Gadolinium‐enhanced T1‐weighted images revealed mild peripheral enhancement of the calcified nodule. L‐methyl‐¹¹C methionine‐positron emission tomography revealed the uptake of tracer in the calcified nodule. The calcified mass and its enveloping brain tissue were removed using a parietal craniotomy. The calcified tissue was surrounded by spindle‐shaped cells positive for GFAP and nestin. The MIB‐1 labeling index of spindle cells was around 10% (i.e. a hot spot). Fourteen months after surgery, gadolinium‐enhanced MRI evidenced growth of a tiny residual lesion. Therefore, this report illustrates a potential case of CAPNON arising from low‐grade glial neoplasm.     

颅内间变型星形细胞瘤影像表现回顾性分析

目的 分析间变型星形细胞瘤的螺旋CT和磁共振影像表现,以提高对本病的认识.方法 回顾性分析颅内间变性星形细胞瘤螺旋CT和磁共振影像表现,使用GE64排螺旋CT和GE 3.0T磁共振,所有病例均进行CT平扫+增强扫描和磁共振SE序列T1WI和T2WI、DWI、MRS、FLAIR序列及对比增强T1WI扫描.结果 间变型星形细胞瘤在螺旋CT和磁共振扫描时密度或信号多不均匀,增强后可见不规则斑片样强化,占位效应明显.MRS显示病灶Cho/NAA的比值5.5～6.3,Cho/Cr比值4.7～5.3.结论 间变型星形细胞瘤的CT及MRI表现具有一定的特征性,螺旋CT和磁共振影像学检查有助于间变型星形细胞瘤的诊断和鉴别诊断.     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Solitary Inflammatory Brain Masses

Brain lesions in inflammatory diseases may present as solitary masses, prompting a biopsy. We present neuroimaging and histologic findings in five patients with solitary, inflammatory, demyelinating mass lesions located in the supratentorial white matter and gray–white junction. The patients presented with seizures, focal neurologic signs, and neuroimaging findings that indicated the possibility of a neoplasm. Computed tomography (CT) revealed enhancing, sing le hypodense lesions associated with mild or no mass effect. On MRI, the lesions were hypointense on T3–weighted images and hyperintense on T2–weighted images. Variable patterns of enhancement were noted on CT and MRI, including homogeneous/patchy (n = 3) and ring/nodular (n = 1) enhancement. There was no evidence of calcification or hemorrhage. Biopsies revea led a leukoencephalitis and demyelination, with varying degrees of demyelination among the cases. The syndrome, re lating to a solitary lesion, was corticosteroid–sensitive, and it ultimately stabilized. Extensive longitudinal evaluations fai led to reveal multiple sclerosis, infection, or neoplasm. Solitary inflammatory lesions add to the differential diagnosis of large, supratentorial, solitary spaceoccupying lesions noted on CT and MRI scans.     

Racemose Cysticercosis in the Cerebellar Hemisphere

Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic disease of the central nervous system in humans, caused by infection of the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. However, cerebellar involvement is rarely reported. We report of a case of racemose cysticercosis in the cerebellar hemisphere. A 44-year-old man presented with headache and dizziness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hydrocephalus and an ill-defined, multicystic cerebellar mass with hypersignal on T2-weighted images, hyposignal on T1-weighted images and rim enhancement after gadolinium injection. The patient underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy and the cyst resection was done through a craniotomy. In surgical field, cysts were conglomerated in a dense collagen capsule that were severely adherent to surrounding cerebellar tissue, and transparent cysts contained white, milky fluid. Histological findings confirmed the diagnosis of cysticercosis. He received antiparasitic therapy with praziquantel after surgery. Racemose cysticercosis is rare in the cerebellar hemisphere but neurocysticercosis should be taken into consideration as a differential diagnosis of multiple cystic lesions in the cerebellum.     

侧脑室室管膜下室管膜瘤的诊断与治疗

目的研究侧脑室室管膜下室管膜瘤临床与影像学特点及其手术治疗效果,探讨其诊断及处理方法.方法回顾性分析了本科1998年5月至2003年5月间,12例经手术病理证实的侧脑室室管膜下室管膜瘤病例.结果侧脑室室管膜下室管膜瘤多见于中年,影像学表现为:CT平扫呈等或低密度,增强扫描强化不明显;MRI T1WI呈等或略低信号,T2WI呈高信号;MRI增强后见肿瘤无明显强化.手术全切11例,次全切除1例.随访9例,均无复发.结论侧脑室室管膜下室管膜瘤好发于中年.临床上遇到较长的病史,CT平扫呈等或低密度,MRI T1WI像呈等或略低信号,T2WI像呈高信号;CT、MRI增强后见无明显强化,位于侧脑室内肿瘤,应该考虑侧脑室室管膜下室管膜瘤的诊断.手术全切肿瘤,预后好,术后无需放疗.     

MR-imaging findings in children with Sturge-Weber syndrome

Intracranial extent and distribution of leptomeningeal angiomatosis, visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA) enhancement, is demonstrated in four children with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS). Aged 7, 9, 11 and 19 months, they presented with cutaneous, neurologic and ocular symptoms at the time of MRI examination. Angiomatous alteration of the skull, atypically located and congested intracerebral and basal veins as well as intracerebral changes secondary to the leptomeningeal angiomatosis are demonstrated with T2 weighted images. Gd-DTPA enhanced T1 weighted images exhibit clearly the regional distribution of angiomatosis in the skull, meninges and within the brain. Before calcifications in children with SWS are detectable by CT, MRI is the method of choice to detect intracranial involvement. Enhancement with Gd-DTPA improves the diagnostic value of MRI, before neurological symptoms appear. Follow-up studies with Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI can be applied to recognize thrombotic changes of leptomeningeal angiomatosis as well as subsequent intracerebral impairment.     

Primary Malignant Melanoma in the Pineal Region

A 59-year-old male patient had 5-month history of gait disturbance and memory impairment. His initial brain computed tomography scan showed 3.5×2.8 cm sized mass with high density in the pineal region. The tumor was hypointense on T2 weighted magnetic resonance images and hyperintense on T1 weighted magnetic resonance images with heterogenous enhancement of central portion. The tumor was totally removed via the occipital transtentorial approach. Black mass was observed in the operation field, and after surgery, histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Whole spine magnetic resonance images and whole body 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography could not demonstrate the primary site of this melanoma. Scrupulous physical examination of his skin and mucosa was done and dark pigmented lesion on his left leg was found, but additional studies including magnetic resonance images and skin biopsy showed negative finding. As a result, final diagnosis of primary pineal malignant melanoma was made. He underwent treatment with the whole brain radiotherapy and extended local boost irradiation without chemotherapy. His preoperative symptoms were disappeared, and no other specific neurological deficits were founded. His follow-up image studies showed no recurrence or distant metastasis until 26 weeks after surgery. Primary pineal malignant melanomas are extremely rare intracranial tumors, and only 17 cases have been reported since 1899. The most recent case report showed favorable outcome by subtotal tumor resection followed by whole brain and extended local irradiation without chemotherapy. Our case is another result to prove that total tumor resection with radiotherapy can be the current optimal treatment for primary malignant melanoma in the pineal region.     

磁共振成像对肾上腺脑白质营养不良的诊断价值

报告４例肾上腺脑白质营养不良（ＡＬＤ）患者的磁共振成像（ＭＲＩ）表现。ＭＲＩ表现为双侧对称的白质异常信号，主要位于枕、顶、颞叶，视放射和胼胝体压部，Ｔ１加权为低信号，Ｔ２加权为高信号，有增强效应。多维成像和高对比强度使ＭＲＩ比ＣＴ有更强的敏感性，能明确病变的部位及其严重程度，故ＭＲＩ是诊断ＡＬＤ的有效手段。     

岩尖胆固醇肉芽肿的诊断和治疗

目的　探讨岩尖胆固醇肉芽肿的诊断和手术治疗方法。方法　对６ 例经手术证实的病人进行回顾性分析。结果　４ 例成熟胆固醇肉芽肿在 Ｔ１ 、 Ｔ２ 加权图像均为高信号,不增强或仅轻微周边增强,具有诊断价值。所有６ 例病人均获肉芽肿和囊壁全切除,并用带蒂颞肌或脂肪块消灭死腔,术后平均随访２ 年无复发。结论　要重视本病发病隐匿的特点,及时进行临床及影像学检查。扩大颞下入路适用于全切除病灶。