Neuroimaging in Pineal Tumors |
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Authors: | F Reis MD AV Faria MD PhD VA Zanardi MD PhD JR Menezes MD F Cendes MD PhD LS Queiroz MD PhD |
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Affiliation: | Department of Radiology, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil. |
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Abstract: | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The authors report radiological findings in 11 tumors in the pineal region, which were histologically diagnosed as germinomas, pineocytomas pineoblastomas, ependymomas, teratomas, and astrocytomas. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was performed in seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: CT showed a solid or solid/cystic mass with variable contrast enhancement. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass, with hypointense signal on T1 and iso/hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and gadolinium enhancement. Extension to adjacent structures occurred in five patients and spread through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in two. CONCLUSIONS: Pineal region tumors have no pathognomonic imaging pattern. MRI and CT are complementary in diagnosis and are important to determine localization, extension, and meningeal spread. |
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Keywords: | Pineal tumors teratoma astrocytoma pineoblastoma pineocytoma germinoma ependymoma |
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