Recurrent medulloblastoma: frequency of tumor enhancement on Gd-DTPA MR imaging

Thirty-two children with medulloblastoma were evaluated postoperatively with conventional and gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging. Eleven patients had abnormal cranial MR studies; nine of these had recurrent tumor. In six patients recurrent tumor enhanced with Gd, while in the other three patients recurrent tumor did not enhance. The remaining two patients had areas of abnormal Gd enhancement that were caused by radiation-induced breakdown of the blood-brain barrier rather than by recurrent tumor. This study shows that not all recurrent medulloblastoma enhances and that the absence of Gd enhancement does not necessarily indicate the absence of recurrent tumor.     

Postoperative evaluation for intracranial recurrence of medulloblastoma: MR findings with gadopentetate dimeglumine.

PURPOSETo characterize the gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MR features of recurrent medulloblastoma.METHODSThe postsurgical gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MR images of 48 patients (206 head examinations) with prior resection of medulloblastoma were retrospectively evaluated for enhancement in the brain parenchyma, meninges (dura, pia-arachnoid), and ventricles.RESULTSNineteen patients had recurrent tumor as determined by clinical course and positive imaging studies. Seventeen patients with recurrent disease had intracranial enhancement predominating in the pia-arachnoid (63%) or as a focal nodular brain lesion (26%). Three of these patients also had intraventricular metastases. None of the clinically healthy patients had these findings. One patient had recurrent tumor presenting within the fourth ventricle. Only 3 of 8 intraventricular lesions observed in the 4 patients initially enhanced with gadopentetate dimeglumine. Another patient with recurrent disease had extensive skeletal metastases without involvement of the central nervous system. Dural enhancement was observed in patients both with (42%) and without (38%) recurrent tumor.CONCLUSIONThe MR findings of pia-arachnoidal or focal nodular brain enhancement are highly specific in the diagnosis of recurrent medulloblastoma. Pia-arachnoidal or focal brain enhancement were also the most frequent patterns associated with recurrent tumor. Dural enhancement alone is not a reliable indicator of recurrent medulloblastoma. Not all intraventricular metastases enhance with gadopentetate dimeglumine, and careful evaluation for nonenhancing lesions within the ventricles should be made on postoperative MR examinations.     

Postoperative evaluation for disseminated medulloblastoma involving the spine: contrast-enhanced MR findings, CSF cytologic analysis, timing of disease occurrence, and patient outcomes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postoperative MR imaging is routinely performed for staging of medulloblastoma because of frequent tumor dissemination along CSF pathways. The goals of this study were to: 1) determine the timing of disease occurrence and contrast-enhanced MR imaging features of disseminated medulloblastoma involving the spine and their relationship to patient outcomes; and 2) compare the diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging findings with CSF cytologic analysis. METHODS: Medical records, pathologic reports, and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced postoperative MR images of the spine and head from 112 patients who had resection of medulloblastoma were retrospectively reviewed. MR images of the spine were evaluated for abnormal contrast enhancement in the meninges and vertebral bone marrow. MR images of the head were evaluated for recurrent or residual intracranial tumor. Imaging data were correlated with available CSF cytologic results and patient outcomes. RESULTS: Twelve patients (11%) had tumor within the spinal leptomeninges depicted on MR images at the time of diagnosis. Twenty-five patients (22%) had disseminated disease in the spine (leptomeninges, n = 22; vertebral marrow, n = 1; or both locations, n = 2) on MR images 2 months to 5.5 years (mean, 2 years) after initial surgery and earlier negative imaging examinations. Eleven other patients (10%) had recurrent intracranial medulloblastoma without spinal involvement seen with MR imaging. Spinal MR imaging had a sensitivity of 83% in the detection of disseminated tumor, whereas contemporaneous CSF cytologic analysis had a sensitivity of 60%. The sensitivity of CSF cytologic analysis increased to 78% with acquisition of multiple subsequent samples, although diagnosis would have been delayed by more than 6 months compared with diagnosis by spinal MR imaging in six patients. Spinal MR imaging was found to have greater overall diagnostic accuracy than CSF cytologic analysis in the early detection of disseminated tumor (P = .03). Spinal MR imaging confirmed disseminated tumor when contemporaneous CSF cytologic findings were negative in 13 patients, whereas the opposite situation occurred in only two patients. False-positive results for spinal MR imaging and CSF cytologic analysis occurred when these examinations were obtained earlier than 2 weeks after surgery. The 5-year survival probability for patients with spinal tumor was 0.24 +/- 0.08 versus 0.68 +/- 0.05 for the entire study group. CONCLUSION: Spinal MR imaging was found to have greater diagnostic accuracy than CSF cytologic analysis in the early detection of disseminated medulloblastoma. CSF cytologic analysis infrequently confirmed disseminated tumor when spinal MR imaging results were negative. Delaying spinal MR imaging and CSF cytologic analysis by more than 2 weeks after surgery can reduce false-positive results for both methods. The presence of disseminated medulloblastoma in the spine seen with MR imaging is associated with a poor prognosis.     

系统性恶性肿瘤所致脑膜癌病的磁共振成像表现

目的 探讨脑膜癌病的MRI表现特点,提高对脑膜癌病的影像学认识和诊断水平。方法 经确诊的脑膜癌病11例,MR常规扫描后均行钆喷替酸葡甲胺（Gd－DTPA）增强扫描,对其增强特点及病变类型进行回顾性分析。结果 MR平扫均未见脑膜异常信号。增强扫描后9例显示软脑膜异常增强,表现为脑表面连续的、可延伸至脑沟内的细线状高信号,累及范围包括小脑、脑干及大脑表面,但未见明确的蛛网膜下腔异常增强。3例显示硬脑膜－蛛网膜异常增强,表现为大脑凸面,其中1例同时累及小脑凸 面和小脑幕。9例累及软脑膜者脑脊液均为异常,2例仅累及硬脑膜－蛛网膜者脑脊液均为正常。结论 MR增强扫描能很好地显示脑膜癌病,根据增强特点可以区分脑膜癌 病的类型,结合临床对脑膜癌病能作出诊断并指导治疗。     

鼻咽癌复发的增强前后MRI诊断

评价Gd-DTPA增强前后MR I在鼻咽癌放疗后复发(RNPC)与放射性纤维化(RF)鉴别诊断中的作用.材料和方法:对MR平扫显示鼻咽部或邻近区域有软组织肿块的28例鼻咽癌放疗后患者行Gd-DTPA增强MR I检查.RNPC22例,RF6例,炎性肿块2例,2例颅底RNPC分别合并鼻咽侧壁RF与炎性病灶.分析病灶形态及信号强度.结果:大多数RNPC病灶表现为TIWI上低信号TZWI高信号,RF在TIWI和T2WI上均显示低或中等信号,平扫两者信号强度区别在于T2WI上,但有一定重叠.增强扫描TIWI示绝大多数RNPC病灶(90.9%)有中度以上明显强化,而RF无或轻度强化,两者信号强度有显著性差异(P<0.01),且增强后肿瘤边界显示更清楚.病灶无强化,可除外RNPC,有强化则不一定是RNPC,明显强化可见于炎性病变.结论:肿块在MR平扫T2WI和增强后TIWI上的信号强度是鉴别RNPC与RF的主要依据,Gd-DTPA增强扫描有助于确定病变性质及其侵犯范围.     

Gd—DTPA对鼻咽癌诊断的价值

目的：分析Ｇｄ－ＤＴＰＡ对鼻咽癌诊断的价值。材料与方法：４０例鼻咽癌患者行Ｇｄ－ＤＴＰＡ增强前后ＭＲＩ检查，其中放疗前１８例，放疗后局部复发（ＲＮＰＣ）２２例；对照组包括放疗后纤维化（ＲＦ）６例和炎性病灶２例。结果：Ｇｄ－ＤＴＰＡ增强ＭＲ检查能清晰显示鼻咽癌的侵犯范围和边界；ＲＮＰＣ与ＲＦ病灶增强后信号强度有显著性差异（Ｐ〈０．０１）；病灶无强化，可除外ＲＮＰＣ，有强化则不一定是ＲＮＰＣ，炎性病灶     

Recurrent glomus tumors of fingertips: MR imaging evaluation

PURPOSE: To determine the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in recurrent glomus tumors of the fingertips. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive patients with recurrent pain after previous excision of a glomus tumor of the fingertip underwent MR imaging studies and surgery. T1-weighted spin-echo MR images were obtained in each patient before and after intravenous injection of contrast material; T2-weighted spin-echo and three-dimensional gradient-recalled echo images were also obtained. MR angiography was performed in four patients. Postsurgical histopathologic analysis revealed recurrent glomus tumors in 22 patients. Signal intensity, enhancement, and margins of the scar tissue and the recurrent tumors at MR were assessed. RESULTS: The postsurgical scars were depicted in 21 (88%) of 24 patients with all sequences but were best demonstrated on gradient-recalled echo MR images. Seven patients had undergone multiple surgical procedures and had extensive scar tissue and, in one case, a neuroma. In all patients, MR imaging revealed a nodule compatible with the diagnosis of a recurrent glomus tumor. In 13 (54%) of 24 patients, the nodule had typical features of a glomus tumor. In eight (33%) of 24 patients, the tumors had low signal intensity or isointensity compared with the nail bed on T2-weighted images. In six (25%) of 24 patients, the tumors had faint enhancement after intravenous gadolinium chelate administration. The margins of the tumors were blurred by scar tissue in nine of 24 cases. CONCLUSION: MR imaging can aid in the evaluation of recurrent glomus tumors.     

腰椎术后MR增强扫描的应用价值

目的 将ＭＲＩ和再次手术所见相对照,探讨钆喷替酸葡甲胺（Ｇd-ＤＴＰＡ）增强ＭＲＩ在鉴别术后瘢痕粘连和椎间盘疝复发的应用价值和准确性。方法 ２２例腰椎术后病人因症状复发再次行腰椎ＭＲＩ检查并接受第２次手术。所有病人都做Ｇd-ＤＴＰＡ增强前、后ＭＲ矢状面、轴面成像,９例病人获取 强图像。结果 ＭＲＩ诊断２２例病人的２７个腰椎平面硬膜前肿物,其中瘢痕结节６个,椎间盘９个,椎间盘上包裹瘢痕１２个平面。与手术     

Gd-DTPA在诊断卵巢肿块中的应用及评价

目的：正确评价Ｇｄ－ＤＴＰＡ在诊断卵巢病变中的作用。材料和方法：采用ＭＲ的Ｔ２加权成像（Ｔ２ＷＩ）和增强前后Ｔ１加权成像（Ｔ１ＷＩ）３种序列，对具有手术病理结果的７５例１１０个卵巢肿块进行回顾性分析。结果：静注Ｇｄ－ＤＴＰＡ后有以下变化特征：（１）恶性肿瘤特征显示正确率由８３．３％升至１００．０％。（２）良、恶性肿块的实质均有明显强化，其强化率之间无显著性差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）；不同强化时程，绝大多数病变的强化率也无明显差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。（３）２２例手术病理明确分期的恶性肿瘤患者中，常规平扫Ｔ１ＷＩ及Ｔ２ＷＩ，分期正确率为５９．１％，运用造影剂后升至７７．３％，结合ＭＲＩ的３个序列可达８１．８％。结论：Ｇｄ－ＤＴＰＡ可改善对肿瘤的描述和对其内部结构的显示，提高对恶性肿瘤诊断及分期的正确率，但Ｇｄ－ＤＴＰＡ增强无特异性，尚不能依据信号的强化程度来判断病灶的性质，恰当的选择使用对临床具有重要的指导意义。     

Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging of leptomeningeal spread of primary intracranial CNS tumor in children

Three children with known primary brain neoplasms and leptomeningeal disease were evaluated with MR imaging. Two of the patients had medulloblastoma and one had pineoblastoma. The presence of leptomeningeal tumor spread was established by positive CSF cytopathology in conjunction with compatible contrast-enhanced CT findings. Contrast-enhanced CT, nonenhanced MR, and Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR studies were then compared. In two cases, leptomeningeal lesions were seen better with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR than with contrast-enhanced CT. In all three cases, Gd-DTPA MR imaging revealed lesions that were not identified on noncontrast MR. Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging is useful when searching for intracranial leptomeningeal tumor deposits in pediatric patients at risk for this condition.     

Comparison of relative cerebral blood volume and proton spectroscopy in patients with treated gliomas

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Elevated relative regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) reflects the increased microvascularity that is associated with brain tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of rCBV in the determination of recurrent/residual disease in patients with treated gliomas. METHODS: Thirty-one rCBV studies were performed in 19 patients with treated gliomas. All patients also had proton MR spectroscopy and conventional MR imaging. Regions of abnormality were identified on conventional MR images by two neuroradiologists and compared with rCBV and MR spectroscopic data. Metabolites and rCBV were quantified and compared in abnormal regions. RESULTS: In high-grade tumors, rCBV values were proportional to choline in regions of tumor and nonviable tissue. Although the presence of residual/recurrent disease was often ambiguous on conventional MR images, the rCBV maps indicated regions of elevated vascularity in all low-grade tumors and in 12 of 17 grade IV lesions. Regions of elevated and low rCBV corresponded well with spectra, indicating tumor and nonviable tissue, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that rCBV maps and MR spectroscopy are complementary techniques that may improve the detection of residual/recurrent tumor in patients with treated gliomas. Compared with the spectra, the rCBV maps may better reflect the heterogeneity of the tumor regions because of their higher resolution. The multiple markers of MR spectroscopy enable better discrimination between normal and abnormal tissue than do the rCBV maps.     

Evaluation of pectoralis major muscle in patients with posterior breast tumors on breast MR images: early experience

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability to use breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to assess disease extent in patients with posterior breast masses who are suspected to have tumor invasion into underlying muscle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with posterior breast masses underwent three-dimensional, gradient-echo, 1.5-T MR imaging before and after the administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Thirteen had deep palpable masses that were clinically determined to be fixed to the underlying chest wall. Twelve had mammographic findings that caused muscle involvement to be suspected, and seven had normal mammograms. All patients underwent surgery. MR images were reviewed and were correlated with histologic findings. RESULTS: Enhancing masses were identified on MR images in all 19 patients. Five (26%) of the 19 patients had masses that abutted the muscles, with obliteration of the fat plane and muscle enhancement. All five had muscle involvement at surgery. In the remaining 14 (74%) patients, no enhancement of muscle was seen; none of these had invasion of the muscle at surgery. CONCLUSION: Extension of adjacent tumor into underlying musculature was indicated by abnormal enhancement within these structures. Violation of the fat plane between tumor and muscle, without other findings, did not indicate tumor involvement of these deep structures.     

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of treatment-associated changes in recurrent and residual medulloblastoma: preliminary observations in three children

Purpose: To emphasize a possible role of magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for lesion conspicuity and detection of treatment effects in children with medulloblastoma.

Material and Methods: Three children with medulloblastoma (two residual and one recurrent) were examined repetitively by MR diffusion-weighted imaging. Regional assessment of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was done for tumorous lesions and periventricular white matter appearing normal on standard MR images.

Results: All lesions were clearly visible on DWI. In the case of recurrent tumor, on one scan, DWI showed lesions that were not seen on contrast-enhanced MRI. Increase (41%) of ADC was seen in one lesion, which subsequently responded completely to treatment over 27 months' follow-up. Intermediate increases (23-26%) of ADC were found with partial therapy response in three lesions. In contrast, a decrease (-11%) of ADC in two lesions was seen with tumor progression.

Conclusion: These observations may suggest a role for DWI in early detection of metastatic disease and treatment monitoring of medulloblastoma, warranting a formal study.     

动态增强MRI对肝脏良恶性肿瘤的鉴别诊断

目的:通过分析动态增强磁共振成像法对肝细胞癌、肝转移瘤及海绵状血管瘤的诊断准确性,评价其在肝脏良恶性肿瘤鉴别诊断中的价值。方法:动态增强法采用快速梯度回波(FLASH序列),以病灶为中心取矢状位或斜位成像;每次5-8层,采集时间约10-20秒,用同一序列共重复扫描9次。结果:在动态增强MRI成像中,15例肝细胞癌表现为注射造影剂后15-45秒后呈迅速、中度不均匀强化,75秒后强化迅速消退;另2例未见明显早期强化,后期仍呈低信号。肝转移瘤表现为轻度、逐渐周边强化,延时期仍呈轻度环形强化。海绵状血管瘤表现为逐渐增强的、由周边向中心扩展的显著强化,延时期仍不消退,呈显著高信号。结论:动态增强MRI能有效地显示肝脏肿瘤内的血液动力学变化,能为鉴别诊断提供可靠的依据,对肝脏肿瘤的准确诊断有极其重要的价值。     

Gadolinium-DTPA-dextran: a macromolecular MR blood pool contrast agent

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging blood pool agents offer numerous advantages for vascular and tumor imaging. The purpose of this study was to test gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-dextran ([Gd]DTPA-dextran) as a new water soluble macromolecular blood pool agent for MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: [Gd]DTPA-dextran (187 gadolinium atoms per dextran, molecular weight 165 kD, diameter 17.6 nm) was synthesized. Fifteen anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits with thigh VX2 tumors were scanned in a knee coil at 1.5T. Coronal 3D MR angiographic sequences were obtained before and at several time points up to 72 hours after the intravenous bolus injection of [Gd]DTPA-dextran providing gadolinium at either 0.05 (n = 4) or 0.1 mmol/kg (n = 8) or [Gd]DTPA-bismethylamide (BMA) providing gadolinium at 0.1 mmol/kg (n = 3). Time enhancement curves for aorta, cava, and tumor rim were compared by univariate General Linear Model. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement of cava and aorta relative to a water phantom were significantly greater at all time points after either dose of [Gd]DTPA-dextran than after [Gd]DTPA-BMA (P < 0.01). Tumor rim enhancement was less intense for either dose of [Gd]DTPA-dextran at peak than for [Gd]DTPA-BMA (P < 0.05). Tumor rim enhancement with both doses of [Gd]DTPA-dextran became equivalent to that of [Gd]DTPA-BMA at one hour and was greater at 24 hours (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: [Gd]DTPA-dextran is a new macromolecular MR contrast agent that can be synthesized to carry a high density of gadolinium atoms without intra-molecular cross-linking. It provides significantly greater vascular residence time than a conventional gadolinium chelate and shows promise for MR blood pool imaging.     

Intraoperative dynamic MRI: Localization of sites of brain tumor recurrence after high-dose radiotherapy

In patients with malignant astrocytomas or metastatic brain disease treated with high-dose radiotherapy, conventional imaging methods may not adequately distinguish recurrent tumor from radiation change. We used a fast spoiled gradient refocusing technique in the open-configuration intraoperative MR system to assess the rate of regional enhancement of the treated tumor bed and to localize specific sites for pathologic sampling to determine whether gadolinium uptake correlated with histologic data. Twenty-four patients were studied. Fourteen of 15 patients with areas of early enhancement had recurrent tumor present in histologic samples, and 8 of the remaining 9 patients had only reactive changes. Dynamic MRI was predictive of recurrent tumor (P < .0005, Fisher exact test and P < .002, Student t test). We conclude that dynamic MRI in the open-bore magnet is a promising method for localizing potential sites of active tumor growth in patients treated for malignant astrocytomas and metastatic brain lesions.     

Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging of spinal tumors

Forty-eight Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR examinations of the spine were performed in 40 patients referred for MR because of clinically suspected spinal tumor or for further evaluation of an expanded cord. The study group consisted of 32 patients with spinal tumors (seven ependymomas; seven astrocytomas; four hemangioblastomas; two arteriovenous malformations; two unidentified intramedullary neoplasms; four meningiomas; and single cases of metastatic breast carcinoma, cavernous hemangioma with associated hematomyelia, neurinoma, angiolipoma, drop metastasis from medulloblastoma, and epidermoid with diastematomyelia). In the remaining eight patients, other diagnoses were established: thoracic disk herniation (two patients), lumbosacral meningocele (one), syringomyelia secondary to arachnoiditis (four), and expanded cord secondary to gliotic tissue (one). All but two diagnoses were proved histologically by biopsy, surgery, or autopsy; in the two patients with arteriovenous malformations, the definitive diagnosis was made by spinal angiography. Contrast enhancement occurred in 30 of the 32 spinal tumors, and Gd-DTPA-enhanced T1-weighted images proved helpful in defining and outlining intra- and extramedullary spinal neoplasms. All ependymomas and astrocytomas (including low-grade astrocytomas) enhanced. In meningiomas, an immediate and uniform contrast uptake was demonstrated. Additional advantages of Gd-DTPA MR include the differentiation of solid tumor components vs syrinx or cyst or pseudotumoral areas of cord expansion, and the differentiation of residual or recurrent tumor from scar tissue in postoperative patients. Our results suggest that IV-injected Gd-DTPA improves MR sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of spinal lesions.     

Lumbar spine: postoperative MR imaging with Gd-DTPA

Thirty patients with failed back surgery syndrome were studied to evaluate the effectiveness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid/dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) in differentiating postoperative epidural fibrosis (scar) from recurrent disk herniation. Pre- and postcontrast MR images were interpreted without access to other diagnostic, surgical, or pathologic findings. Seventeen patients had surgical and pathologic correlation of the MR findings at 19 disk levels. The precontrast studies had a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100%, 71%, and 89%, respectively. The enhanced MR studies correctly depicted the character of abnormal epidural soft tissue in 17 patients at all 19 levels. Scar showed heterogeneous enhancement on the early T1-weighted spin-echo images obtained within 10 minutes after contrast material administration. Herniated disk did not show significant enhancement on the early studies but showed variable degrees of enhancement on delayed images in nine of 12 cases. Other criteria were found to be less useful than the pattern of enhancement. Results indicate that precontrast and early postcontrast T1-weighted spin-echo studies are highly accurate in separating epidural fibrosis from herniated disk.     

The use of early postoperative MR in detecting residual juvenile cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma.

PURPOSEWe compared visibility of residual juvenile cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas (JPAs) on early postoperative and follow-up MR studies to determine whether early postoperative MR imaging has a valid role as a baseline study.METHODSWe reviewed the MR images of 21 consecutive children who had undergone resection of cerebellar JPA. The diagnosis of residual tumor was made on the basis of nodular enhancement that corresponded to enhancing tumor on the preoperative MR studies and/or nonenhancing nodular T2 signal that corresponded to nonenhancing tumor. Because no patient received chemotherapy or radiation therapy, abnormal T2 signal or enhancement on the early postoperative study that resolved on the follow-up study was presumed to be due to peritumoral edema and/or surgical manipulation. Nodular T2 signal and/or enhancement in the tumor bed not seen on the initial postoperative MR study but present on the subsequent MR study and unchanged on serial follow-up MR studies was presumed to represent residual tumor rather than tumor that had recurred.RESULTSCompared with follow-up studies, the initial postoperative MR images were true-positive for residual tumor in six patients, false-positive in five, equivocal for residual tumor in four, true-negative in five, and false-negative in one. Residual tumor did not consistently enhance, and peritumoral edema and changes resulting from surgical manipulation tended to mask or simulate residual tumor.CONCLUSIONEarly postoperative MR imaging is not accurate in differentiating residual JPA from postoperative changes, and the role of early postoperative MR imaging as a baseline study for comparison with further studies is questionable.     

Medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity: single photon emission CT study with iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine

We present the case of an infant with medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity, which had been called cerebellar neuroblastoma. MR imaging clearly revealed a nodular enhancement, which appeared as a grape-like lesion. Single photon emission CT revealed markedly high iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine uptake in the enhancing tumor. Iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine single photon emission CT may be useful in the diagnosis of medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity, which has been considered to be a subgroup of medulloblastoma with extensive neuronal differentiation.