Source
Department of Radiology, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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.