Magnetic resonance imaging of intercranial plasmocytic granuloma.

The objective of this study is to determine characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of intracranial plasmocytic granulomas. Pathological confirmation of three patients with intracranial pathologically confirmed plasmocytic granuloma are presented. Clinical records as well pre- and postgadolinium-enhanced images from each patient are reviewed. The location of the abnormalities is compared with previous reported cases of plasmocytic granulomas, to determine if there is a characteristic finding in this disense. The predominance of this abnormality in the pediatric and young adult patient was striking. On T(1)-weighted MRI, plasmocytic granulomas appear as hypointense lesions, with isointense appearance on T(2) images, and significant, variable patterns of enhancement after the infusion of gadolinium. Typically, the lesion is infiltrating, and causes little mass effect. A dural based lesion, as well as a sellar region abnormality and an infiltrating cortical lesion with little mass effect in the pediatric or young adult age group may lead the observer to suspect the diagnosis of plasmocytic granuloma.