Transcript Slide 1

UNC Neuro Rad/Path Conference
Yueh Z. Lee, MD/PhD
September 14, 2011
Case #1
• 15 y/o male presents to pediatrician with 2wks of intermittent headaches, followed by
severe headache with nausea & vomiting.
• Denies any other symptoms, recent illness
fever or trauma.
Imaging
• CT
– 3.3 x 4.0 cm hypo-attenuating sellar/suprasellar
mass
– Dilated lateral ventricles
• DDX
• craniopharyngioma, pituitary macroadenoma,
astrocytoma
Non-contrast CT
Imaging
• MR
– large suprasellar mass with predominantly
multilobulated cystic components and smaller
nodular components measuring approximately 3.4
x 2.8 by 3.3 cm. Irregular peripheral
enhancement.
• DDX
– Craniopharyngioma, hypothalamic astrocytoma
T2
T1
ADC
FLAIR
PC-T1
PC-T1
Microscopy shows Rosenthal fibers and elongated
astrocytic process typical of pilocytic astrocytoma.
Note loose and dense cellular areas.
Optic pathway gliomas
• Optic pathway gliomas represent 3% to 5% of childhood brain tumors.
• Majority of optic chiasmatic-hypothalamic gliomas (OCHGs) are pilocytic
astrocytomas.
• In patients with neurofibromatosis, OCHGs most commonly involve the intra-orbital
optic nerve (66%), followed by the chiasm (62%).
• In patients without neurofibromatosis, OCHGs most commonly involve the
chiasm (91%), with the optic nerves involved in 32% of OCHGs.
• In one study of 24 patients, optic chiasm involved in 100% of cases, hypothalamus in
89%, optic chiasm alone in 11%, optic tracts in 28%, and optic nerve in 11%.
• Differential diagnosis of sellar-suprasellar lesions includes pituitary adenoma,
meningioma, germinoma, craniopharyngioma, Rathke cleft cyst, dermoid cyst,
tuberculoma, and sarcoidosis.
• It is not always possible to distinguish craniopharyngiomas from OCHGs by MRI.
Bommakanti K,, et al. Optic chiasmatic-hypothalamic gliomas: Is tissue diagnosis essential?
Neurol India, 2010;58(6):833-40.
Optic Glioma characteristics
• T1
– Isointense to mildly hypointense
• T2
– Focally hyperintense cystic spaces of mucinous
degeneration
• Enhancement
– Variable
• Synonyms/variants: JPA, optic nerve glioma,
adult malignant optic glioma
Case #2
• 48 y/o male with RUE/RLE numbness for 8
months. Imaging was performed, identifying a
cervical spinal cord lesion.
MR Imaging
• Expansion of cervical cord by a T2
hyperintense intramedullary mass. Areas of
intense enhancement within the
intramedullary mass, some rim-like & also
cystic areas within the mass.
• DDX: ependymoma or astrocytoma
MR Imaging
T1
T2
STIR
PC-T1
Mild hypercellularity and Rosenthal fibers are
compatible with pilocytic astrocytoma.
Pilocytic astrocytoma of the spinal cord
• Spinal cord pilocytic astrocytomas (PA) are uncommon tumors that account for
21% of intramedullary glial tumors affecting children and young adults.
• Although rare, PAs are the most frequent spinal cord tumors in the pediatric
population, and second only to ependymomas in adults.
• Unlike brain astrocytomas, spinal cord astrocytomas usually are low-grade
lesions.
• Most spinal cord PAs are already large at presentation, as they grow insidiously
and evolve often over months or years without clearly defined neurologic deficits.
• PAs usually occur in thoracic spine region, followed by cervical and lumbar
regions.
• Regional back pain is most common initial complaint. Sensory disturbances and
loss of sensation occur frequently. Later, spasticity and weakness with loss of
bowel and bladder function occurs.
Horger M, et al. Spinal pilocytic astrocytoma: MR imaging findings at first presentation and following surgery. European Journal
of Radiology, 2011; 79:389– 399.
Astrocytoma of the Spinal Cord
• T1
– Cord expansion, less than 4 segments
– Multi-segmented more common with pilocytic
• T2
– Hyperintense
• Post Contrast
– Almost always enhances
• Diffuse fibrillary > pilocytic
Case #3
• 21 month old girl found unresponsive. Several
episodes of vomiting that self resolved 2- wks
prior. Fussy through the night with difficulty
sleeping. Slept longer than normal in
morning, found unresponsive.
MR Imaging
• Large parieto-occipital mass measuring 8.5 x
6.8 x 7.3 cm with mass effect. Hyperintense
intratumoral signal from blood products and
calcium is identified. Little enhancement.
• DDX:
– supratentorial ependymoma, atypical rhadboid
teratoid tumor or supratentorial PNET
T1
FLAIR
T2
T2
PC-T1
T2
T2
DWI
DWI
ADC
ADC
Monotonous hypercellarity and perivascular pseudorosette formation (circle) compatible with ependymoma.
Necrosis (circle) is present.
Supratentorial Ependymoma
• CT – Solid and cystic with hemorrhage and calcifications
• T1:
– Usually iso to hypo, hyperintense Ca, blood products
• T2:
– Strikingly hyperintense cystic foci
• FLAIR:
– Sharp tumor interface
• DWI:
– Similar to surrounding parenchyma
• Post-Contrast:
– Mild to moderate enhancement