KEY FACTS Terminology Rare, benign, well-differentiated, intraventricular ependymal tumor, typically attached to ventricular wall Imaging Intraventricular, inferior 4th ventricle typical (60%) Other locations: Lateral > 3rd ventricle > spinal cord T2/FLAIR hyperintense intraventricular mass Heterogeneity related to cystic changes; blood…
KEY FACTS Terminology Posterior fossa ependymoma (PF-EPN) Imaging Ependymoma can occur anywhere in neuraxis Most common site: Posterior fossa (2/3 of cases) Lobulated mass in body/inferior 4th ventricle – Soft or “plastic” tumor □ Accommodates to shape of ventricle □…
KEY FACTS Terminology Oligodendroglioma with focal or diffuse histologic features of malignancy Imaging Best diagnostic clue: Calcified frontal lobe mass involving cortex and subcortical white matter Frontal lobe is most common location, followed by temporal lobe Majority have nodular or…
KEY FACTS Terminology Well-differentiated, slowly growing but diffusely infiltrating cortical/subcortical tumor Imaging Most common site is frontal lobe (50-65%) Best diagnostic clue: Partially calcified subcortical/cortical frontal mass in middle-aged adult Typically T2 heterogeneous, hyperintense mass ~ 50% enhance Heterogeneous enhancement…
KEY FACTS Terminology Diffusely infiltrating, frequently bilateral glial tumor involving at least 3 lobes Infiltrative extent of tumor is out of proportion to histologic and clinical features Imaging T2 hyperintense infiltrating mass with enlargement of involved structures Typical cerebral hemispheres…
KEY FACTS Terminology Rapidly enlarging malignant astrocytic tumor characterized by necrosis and neovascularity Most common of all primary intracranial neoplasms Imaging Best imaging clue: Thick, irregularly enhancing rind of neoplastic tissue surrounding necrotic core Heterogeneous, hyperintense mass with adjacent tumor…
KEY FACTS Terminology Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA): Well-circumscribed, slow-growing tumor, often with cyst and mural nodule Imaging Cystic cerebellar mass with enhancing mural nodule Arises from cerebellar hemisphere and compresses 4th ventricle Enlarged optic nerve/chiasm/tract with variable enhancement Cerebellum (60%) >…
KEY FACTS Terminology Diffusely infiltrating malignant astrocytoma with anaplasia, marked proliferative potential Imaging Infiltrating mass that predominately involves white matter with variable enhancement T2 heterogeneously hyperintense Neoplastic cells almost always found beyond areas of abnormal signal intensity May involve and…
KEY FACTS Terminology Well-differentiated but infiltrating neoplasm, slow growth pattern Primary brain tumor of astrocytic origin with intrinsic tendency for malignant progression, degeneration into anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) Imaging Focal or diffuse nonenhancing white matter mass T2 homogeneously hyperintense mass May…
Introduction The most widely accepted classification of brain neoplasms is sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO). A working group of world-renowned neuropathologists periodically convenes for a consensus conference on brain tumor classification and grading. The results are then published.…