OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of pilocytic astrocytomas and to correlate them with the histopathologic findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MRI examinations and histopathologic findings in 56 patients with pilocytic astrocytomas were retrospectively reviewed. In 38 patients, findings on MRI were compared with those on computed tomography. RESULTS: The tumors occurred at all levels of the central nervous system, including the spinal cord. The intracranial tumors were periventricular (73%) or periaqueductal (9%). All tumors were typical pilocytic astrocytomas and were grade 1 on the basis of the World Health Organization classification. At operation, they were often circumscribed and cystic. Radiologically, the tumors were well demarcated (96%), had benign morphologic features, and almost always showed enhancement (94%). CONCLUSION: MRI of pilocytic astrocytomas typically demonstrated a relatively large, sharply demarcated periventricular mass with pronounced contrast enhancement but minimal or no associated edema. Often, the tumors were cystic on MRI. Despite the well-demarcated appearance grossly and on MRI, pathologic review showed that many of these tumors (64%) infiltrated the surrounding parenchyma, particularly the white matter.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of pilocytic astrocytomas and to correlate them with the histopathologic findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MRI examinations and histopathologic findings in 56 patients with pilocytic astrocytomas were retrospectively reviewed. In 38 patients, findings on MRI were compared with those on computed tomography. RESULTS: The tumors occurred at all levels of the central nervous system, including the spinal cord. The intracranial tumors were periventricular (73%) or periaqueductal (9%). All tumors were typical pilocytic astrocytomas and were grade 1 on the basis of the World Health Organization classification. At operation, they were often circumscribed and cystic. Radiologically, the tumors were well demarcated (96%), had benign morphologic features, and almost always showed enhancement (94%). CONCLUSION: MRI of pilocytic astrocytomas typically demonstrated a relatively large, sharply demarcated periventricular mass with pronounced contrast enhancement but minimal or no associated edema. Often, the tumors were cystic on MRI. Despite the well-demarcated appearance grossly and on MRI, pathologic review showed that many of these tumors (64%) infiltrated the surrounding parenchyma, particularly the white matter.
Authors: Ricardo J Komotar; J Mocco; Benjamin S Carson; Michael E Sughrue; Brad E Zacharia; Alexander C Sisti; Peter D Canoll; Alexander G Khandji; Tarik Tihan; Peter C Burger; Jeffery N Bruce Journal: MedGenMed Date: 2004-12-09
Authors: Maria Koutourousiou; Paul A Gardner; Julia K Kofler; Juan C Fernandez-Miranda; Carl H Snyderman; L Dade Lunsford Journal: J Neurol Surg B Skull Base Date: 2012-12-31
Authors: Christopher S Hong; Winson Ho; Martin G Piazza; Abhik Ray-Chaudhury; Zhengping Zhuang; John D Heiss Journal: J Interdiscip Histopathol Date: 2016