Diploic meningioma contiguous to a contralateral parasagittal meningioma: CT and MR features.

A patient with a diploic meningioma is presented. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an intradiploic tumor which seemed contiguous at a point to a contralateral, recurrent parasagittal meningioma. On CT, density of the diploic meningioma was similar to that of the parasagittal meningioma, but the contrast study showed that the former enhanced much less than the latter. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated that the diploic tumor was heterogeneous and much less enhanced with Gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA) than the parasagittal meningioma on T1-weighted image, although they were very similar in signal intensities on T2-weighted and proton density-weighted MR images without Gd-DTPA. Reasons for such marked differences in enhancement patterns are discussed.     

Brain and skull metastases of hepatic or pancreatic cancer--report of six cases.

Brain and skull metastases from primary hepatic or pancreatic cancer are very rare. The authors describe six cases of metastatic tumors. These are skull (three cases) and brain (one) metastasis of hepatic cancer and brain metastasis (two) of pancreatic cancer. In three hepatic cancer patients, the metastatic lesions were diagnosed before the diagnosis of primary cancer. In these patients, plain skull x-ray showed osteolytic lesions and vascular enlargement. A postcontrast computed tomographic (CT) scan showed an enhanced high-density epidural mass. Angiograms showed a tumor stain fed by abnormal vessels from the external carotid artery. In one patient with a metastatic brain tumor from hepatic cancer, a CT scan showed a high-density mass with hematoma. In one of the brain metastases from pancreatic cancer, a CT scan revealed a cystic, ring-like enhanced lesion in the thalamus. In the other case, a CT scan showed an isodensity mass in the vermis and hydrocephalus. Metastatic tumors from primary hepatic cancer were soft and hemorrhagic, but they were clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissue. In the case of thalamic metastasis, the cyst content was aspirated and an anticancer agent was administered into the cystic cavity. In the other cases, the tumors were totally removed. The outcome was very poor in all cases.     

Cystic meningioma. Case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Cystic meningioma is a rare variety of meningioma. It represents 1,6 to 10% of intracranial meningiomas, the authors report a case of intracranial cystic meningioma with a review of literature. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old female presented with left parietooccipital headache followed by right side hemiparesis. CT scan brain showed a left parietal tumor with double solid and cystic components thought to be glioma or metastasis preoperatively. At surgery the extraaxial solid and cystic lesion had a well defined capsule that could be easily separated from the perilesional cortical surface. The tumor was totally removed. The histological study showed a cystic meningioma. CONCLUSION: Cystic meningioma is an uncommon tumor that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors with a cystic component.     

Spontaneous pneumothorax caused by lung metastasis of sarcoma of the thigh

Relapsing spontaneous pneumothorax can be the first manifestation of pulmonary metastases of soft tissues sarcomas. Standard imaging techniques and computed tomography may not be able to detect small malignant cystic lesion or to distinguish between them and benign bollous lesions. We report the case of a 33 year-old male who, in the past, underwent surgical treatment for a synovial sarcoma of the inferior limb. The patient was admitted to our hospital because of right spontaneous pneumothorax; both chest x-ray and CT scan didn't detect any metastatic pulmonary lesion. A few days after the discharge the patient was readmitted because of relapsed pneumothorax; high-definition CT of the chest revealed a pulmonary cystic lesion that was resected thoracoscopically. Histological examination revealed a pulmonary metastases of synovial sarcoma.     

A case of acute subdural hematoma associated with convexity meningioma

A 61-year-old normotensive woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of severe headache and nausea. She has had a limp due to the poliomyelitis in her childhood. Three days before admission, she had a headache without unconsciousness. On admission, she was almost alert. Her vital signs were normal. A mild monoparesis of the atrophic right lower extremity was evident. This impairment was due to her past poliomyelitis. There were no other motor palsy, sensory loss, nuchal rigidity, and papilledema. A plain CT scan showed a crescent high density zone adjacent to a round high density mass in the left convexity. A cerebral angiogram showed a vascular left temporoparietal mass supplied by a middle meningeal artery. A craniotomy was then immediately performed. The well encapsulated tumor was totally resected, and the adjacent subdural hematoma was also evacuated. Histologically, the tumor was transitional meningioma with areas containing thin-walled vessels and focal necrosis. Postoperative course was uneventful. The origin of hemorrhage in this case would seem to be the thin-walled blood vessel with loss of vessel support. The clinical significance and the mechanism of the hemorrhage from the meningioma were discussed.     

Recurrent meningioma with malignant changes and extracranial multiple metastases

A case of recurrent meningioma with malignant change and extracranial multiple metastases is reported. A 51-year-old female was operated on and left parasagittal meningioma was extirpated by Simpson grade II. Histological diagnosis was fibroblastic and transitional meningioma with slight atypism. Six years later, however, the tumor (transitional meningioma with slight mitosis) recurred in the same portion and was removed again by Simpson grade II. Further more, four years after the second operation, bilateral parasagittal meningioma (atypical meningioma; transitional type) was extirpated by Simpson grade I including superior sagittal sinus and falx. Only eight months after the last operation, a few tumors with central necrosis were demonstrated in the bilateral parasagittal area on a computerized tomography scan and she received radiation therapy. But the tumor had metastasized to the extracranial multiple organs including lungs, liver, pancreas, adrenal gland, muscles, multiple bones and lymph nodes. Post mortem diagnosis was malignant meningioma. We reviewed and discussed the characteristics of metastasizing meningioma, the effectiveness of radiation therapy on the prevention of recurrence of meningioma and the curative effect of radiation therapy for recurrent or metastasized meningioma.     

Epithelial cysts of the central nervous system: report of two cases

Two cases of epithelial cyst are reported. Case 1. A 68-year-old female visited our hospital with a complaint of decreased visual acuity, 0.04 in the left eye, in September 1986. Visual field examination showed bitemporal hemianopsia. CT scan demonstrated nonenhancing cystic lesion involving the suprasellar region. By a right frontotemporal craniotomy, the suprasellar cyst was explored. The wall of the cyst was partially removed to relieve pressure against both optic nerves and chiasma. Histologically, the cyst wall was lined with a single layer of non-ciliated cuboidal epithelium. Electron microscopic study revealed a number of microvilli, continuous basement membrane and desmosomes. Case 2. A 40-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of sensory disturbance in the left hand for several years. She had an episode of convulsive seizure with a loss of consciousness. Neurological examination revealed hypesthesia of the left hand. CT scan showed non-enhancing right frontoparietal cystic lesion compressing the right lateral ventricle to the left. By a right frontoparietal craniotomy, the cystic lesion was explored. The cyst existed beneath an arachnoid membrane and contained CSF-like clear fluid. The cyst wall was resected, as far as possible, to obtain communication with normal subarachnoid CSF space. Histologically, by light and electron microscopic study, the cyst was considered to be an epithelial cyst. A correct diagnosis is difficult because other cystic lesions such as arachnoid cysts and craniopharyngioma are of similar low density and appear the same on CT scan. It is impossible to diagnose such an epithelial cyst by relying on neuroradiological study alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A primary intraosseous cystic meningioma: Case report

IntroductionThis is a very rare case of intraosseous cystic meningioma. There have been no reports of similar cases in the last 30 years.Presentation of caseA 62-year-old man, suffering from a swelling of the lateral wall of the left orbit was admitted to our hospital. MRI and CT scan showed a large intradiploic lesion involving the lateral wall of the orbit and the greater wing of the sphenoid. The lesion was cystic with a mural nodule. We operated the patient and removed completely the mural nodule and the fibrous wall of cyst. Histological examination showed that the mural nodule was a benign meningothelial meningioma.DiscussionPrimary intraosseous meningiomas represent a subtype of primary extradural meningiomas; they comprise about 2% of all meningiomas and are therefore rare entities. Cystic meningiomas are rare, their incidence compared to all other types of meningiomas is of 2–4%. The presence of a meningioma with both characteristics: cystic and intraosseous, like in our case, is an exceptional occurrence.ConclusionThe surgical management of tumor was easy; its rarity means that the case is interesting.     

Malignant meningioma with repeated multiple recurrence. A case report.

A case of malignant meningioma with repeated multiple recurrence was reported. A 22 year-old male first underwent the total removal of left parieto-occipital convexity meningioma in 1965. Although he had lived an uneventful life after the operation, he recognized motor weakness of the left lower limb in April 1985 when he was 41 years old and CT revealed a large tumor in the parieto-occipital parasagittal region. He underwent the total removal of the tumor and cranioplasty on May 23, 1985. After the second operation, repeated recurrence of multiple tumors was seen, which were in the frontal, parietal and occipital convexities, parasagittal regions and falx. He underwent further operations on January 23, 1986, December 11, 1986, March 30, 1987 and July 20, 1987 in addition to the first and second ones. Histological study on every operation indicated malignant meningioma with mitosis, hypercellularity and necrosis. Though radiotherapy (56 Gy whole brain irradiation) was conducted after the sixth operation, multiple tumors recurred and clinical symptoms and signs deteriorated gradually and he finally died September 9, 1989. In malignant meningioma such as our case, early aggressive radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be considered besides radical operations.     

Coincidental pituitary adenoma and parasellar meningioma: case report

We report a patient who had pituitary adenoma and parasellar meningioma coincidentally, with neither irradiation nor a history of head injury. Preoperative computed tomographic (CT) scan had shown a large intrasellar mass with ring-like enhancement; in contact with this mass, another well-enhanced mass had been shown. Histopathologically, the intrasellar mass was diagnosed as chromophobic pituitary adenoma and the other mass as meningotheliomatous meningioma. We present clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings and discuss previously reported cases of coincidental pituitary adenoma and meningioma without irradiation. This is the first case report since the advent of CT that pituitary adenoma and parasellar meningioma in contact with each other could be clearly demonstrated by CT.     

Cyst formation of meningioma: report of two cases and review of literature

Cystic meningioma is rare and said to account for 1 to 2% of all types of meningioma. Here we report two cases of cystic meningioma. Case 1 is a 25-year-old man. He had suffered from sporadic epileptic seizure for about two years until the first CT was performed. It revealed a large cystic lesion at the right parietal region in touch with the midline structure. A nodular high density area was delineated in the contrast enhanced CT on the medial wall of the cyst. He showed no neurological abnormality at all. Case 2 is a 56-year-old female who had been complaining of memory disturbance, and an episode of sudden dizziness followed by a syncope that lasted for a few minutes. Neurological examination revealed slight right hemiparesis, right homonymous hemianopsia and left papilledema. A large cystic lesion was delineated at the temporal region in the plain CT, and no positively enhanced region could be found in the contrast enhanced CT. After surgical removal of the tumors, both cases were identified as cases of meningioma. They were diagnosed histopathologically as a fibroblastic meningioma and a meningotheliomatous meningioma respectively. The wall of the cyst consisted of the cortical surface per se in both cases. Preoperative diagnosis of such cases and the mechanism by which the cyst is formed were also discussed.     

Meningioma associated with aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage: case report and review of the literature

A patient presented with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage after a prolonged episode of coughing. A preoperative computed tomographic (CT) scan confirmed subarachnoid hemorrhage, but demonstrated no other lesion. Arteriography revealed an ophthalmic artery aneurysm. Operation revealed the aneurysm to be intracavernous without sign of prior rupture; however, a small hemorrhagic meningioma was removed from the ipsilateral anterior clinoid process. In this case, coincidental meningioma and aneurysm presented as a subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to tumor hemorrhage. The follow-up of cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage with negative arteriography with sequential CT scans is discussed.     

Choroid plexus papilloma in the posterior fossa

Choroid plexus papillomas in the posterior fossa can present with different clinical signs and symptoms. The tumors in the patients we discuss in this article originated from different sites of the choroid plexus. One patient, who had a fourth ventricle papilloma, experienced unsteady gait and episodes of dizziness over many years. The tumor was cystic an calcified, and adherent to the brain-stem. The second patient had only signs of increased intracranial pressure. A soft tumor was located in the cerebellomedullary cistern. The third patient, with a papilloma in the cerebellopontine angle, complained of hearing loss. This tumor was firmly adherent to the dura mater and looked exactly like a meningioma. The appearance on computed tomography scan, the macroscopic aspect, and the vascular supply of a papilloma in the posterior fossa can vary considerably.     

Giant cell tumor (osteoclastoma) of the petrous bone: case report

A case of a basal middle fossa giant cell tumor occurring in a 46-year-old man is described. The lesion appeared at the computed tomography (CT) scan examination as an hypodense mass with a peripheral "ring-like" enhancement, and no evident erosion of the skull base. The tumor, which infiltrated the basal temporal parenchyma, was removed via a temporal transzygomatic craniotomy, and extensive drilling of the petrous bone. Despite the occurrence, of significant postoperative complications, the patient ultimately showed a good clinical outcome, with no signs of recurrence at the 1-year follow-up CT scanning. The clinical and diageostic aspects and the management policy, of this rare lesion are discussed.     

A case of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease with brain abscess; the mechanism of the formation of brain abscess and its treatment in Osler-Weber-Rendu disease

A 54 year-old man, who had a hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu disease; O-W-R) accompanied by pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) and congestive heart failure, developed seizure, right hemiparesis and dysphasia. A brain CT scan revealed a cystic lesion with perifocal edema in left frontoparietal lobe. A contrast enhanced CT scan showed a ring-like enhancement. Dynamic CT scans disclosed that the ring in the cortical side was enhanced more thickly than that in the ventricular side. Considering the severity of the cardio-pulmonary condition, and the deep location of the abscess, we performed an echo-guided aspiration and drainage of the abscess under local anesthesia. No bacteria were demonstrated in the culture of the contents of the abscess. After the surgery, the right hemiparesis and dysphasia were much improved and a CT scan showed the marked reduction of the abscess. However, around eight days after the surgery, the patient showed severe pleural effusion due to progressive heart failure and died on the 11th postoperative day. Autopsy disclosed a shrunken brain abscess, multiple cerebral infarction, multiple PAVFs and severe constrictive pericarditis which was regarded as the cause of death in the patient. In this report, we presented the therapeutic advantage of echo-guided surgery for the treatment of brain abscess in a high-risk patient. We also discussed the mechanism of the formation of brain abscess in patients of O-W-R disease by reviewing published cases.     

Cystic falx meningioma: report of a case with difficulty in radiologic diagnosis]

A case of cystic falx meningioma in the frontal region in which preoperative neuroradiologic diagnosis was difficult is reported. This 33-year-old man had suffered from epileptic seizures three times in one month. Physical and neurological examinations on admission were normal. A cystic mass with a small nodule was found on CT in the frontal region. Thin wall was enhanced smoothly and the nodule attached to the falx was enhanced heterogeneously. The mass was considered to be an extra-axial lesion on MRI. The right anterior falcine artery seemed to feed the mass. Bifrontal craniotomy was performed. Cyst was evacuated, and a soft reddish mass was subtotally removed. Cyst fluid was yellowish and protein content was 3.5 g/dl. Histopathological diagnosis was a meningotheliomatous meningioma and tumor cells were present also in the thin cyst wall. At the second operation the mass was completely removed, cyst wall inclusive. When we encounter a cystic mass in the sites of predilection of meningiomas, we have to consider the possibility of a cystic meningioma. If the mass has meningeal vascularization, a correct diagnosis is not difficult. Taking the location of the mass into consideration, an accurate interpretation of CT and MRI findings indicating extra-axial nature of the mass is indispensable.     

A case of intrasellar meningioma with panhypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia

A case of intrasellar meningioma is reported. A 49-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital on July 22, 1985, complaining of reduced visual acuity and visual field defect. Visual acuity was 0.6 in the right eye and 0.1 in the left eye. Visual field examination revealed upper temporal quadrantanopsia on the right side and incomplete temporal hemianopsia on the left side. Ocular fundi were normal. X-ray films of the skull showed a balloon-shaped sella turcica with "double floor". CT scan showed a isodense mass with central low density occupying the intrasellar and suprasellar region. After administration of contrast medium, almost homogenous enhancement was noted. Bilateral carotid angiographies demonstrated that horizontal portion of the right anterior cerebral artery was raised. No tumor blush was evident. Endocrinologic function tests confirmed a complete deficit of the anterior lobe hormones except for elevated serum prolactin level of 110 ng/ml. She showed no galactorrhea. On August 6, 1985, the sella turcica was reached via the transsphenoidal rhinoseptal approach. The sella floor and dura matter were intact. The grey, soft and necrotic tumor tissue was encountered and bleeding was controllable. The tumor extending to suprasellar region was firm in consistency. Pathologically, the tumor was a typical meningothelial meningioma. Postoperatively, visual field defect improved and visual acuity was recovered on the right side immediately. Postoperative CT scan showed a thin residual enhanced lesion, which was the attachment of the tumor. It seemed to be the elevated diaphragma sellae. Clinical observation, radiological and endocrinological findings of intrasellar meningioma are similar to that of non-functioning pituitary adenoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A case of chondrosarcoma in the cavernous sinus]

A 24-year-old female patient complained of headache and right abducens nerve paralysis. No abnormality was found in plain CT scan, but a ring-like enhanced mass was disclosed behind the right posterior clinoid process in enhanced CT scan. MRI revealed a low intensity mass in T1-weighted image and a ring-like enhanced mass in gadolinium-DTPA enhanced image. It was a circumferential high intensity mass in T2-weighted image and an isointensity mass in proton image. Cerebral angiography indicated that it was avascular. Preoperative diagnosis was trigeminal neurinoma or petroclival meningioma. The tumor was removed almost completely by orbitozygomatic infratemporal approach. Histologically, it was low grade chondrosarcoma. Postoperatively, neither radiation therapy nor chemotherapy was added. Differential diagnosis and treatment was discussed. It was suggested that MRI was the most useful diagnostic tool to distinguish chondrosarcoma from other skull base tumors.     

Meningioma following irradiation for vascular nevus. A case report

A case of meningioma that developed 37 years after irradiation therapy for vascular nevus of the scalp over the right frontoparietal region was reported. A 49-year-old male was admitted to the hospital of Gifu University on October 26, 1979, because of a generalized seizure. He had been born with a vascular nevus affecting the right frontoparietal scalp, for which he began receiving local irradiation at the age of 12. The total dose was not known because the only source of information regarding this treatment was the patient's memory. From the age of 17, the suffered from occasional attacks of dysesthesia in the left side of his body without consciousness disorder. He otherwise remained well for the intervening 37 years. Upon admission, he had a vascular nevus remaining with post irradiation skin changes over the right frontoparietal region. General and neurological examination were not remarkable. Right carotid angiogram and CT scan disclosed the presence of a right frontal tumor. A right frontotemporal craniotomy was performed on December 4, 1979 and a hard tumor was found firmly attached to the dura and bone at the right site. All visible tumor and involved bone were completely removed without difficulty. Histological examination of the surgical specimen showed the characteristic features of a transitional meningioma. There was no evidence of malignancy in the sections examined. Since Mann et al reported a malignant meningioma following irradiation therapy for optic nerve glioma, there have been many reports, over seventy cases of so-called radiation-induced meningioma. However, a meningioma following irradiation therapy for vascular nevus of scalp or face is exceedingly rare.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

CT诊断肝结核

目的分析肝结核CT表现,以探讨其影像诊断特点。方法回顾性分析68例皆经临床诊断、术后及经皮肝穿刺病理证实的肝结核患者的CT影像学表现。结果肝结核分为三种亚型：①肝浆膜型24例,为肝包膜增厚及包膜下孤立或多发丘状低密度病灶,增强扫描环形强化、分隔样强化或无强化。②肝实质型36例,其中又分为粟粒型21例、结节型5例、肝囊肿型10例。粟粒型表现为肝实质多发、散在大小不一的粟粒或小结节灶,增强扫描无明显强化。结节型表现为肝内孤立性低密度区,病变实质无明显强化或环形边缘强化。肝囊肿型表现为大小不等囊肿样病变,圆形或不规则形,增强扫描无强化,境界清晰。③混合型8例,同时具有肝浆膜型及肝实质型表现。所有病例均合并全身多脏器结核。结论 CT表现为粟粒影、大小不等囊性灶、孤立低密度区及肝包膜下丘状低密度区,合并全身多脏器结核,特别是合并胸内结核、多浆膜腔结核时,高度提示肝结核可能。