Value of MRI in the morphological evaluation of tumors of the third ventricle.
The detection or suspicion of a tumoral expansive process in the third ventricule is usually performed by MRI. The contribution of MRI to the diagnosis is unquestionable in view of its accuracy in the topographical characterization of these lesions and in the detection of small formations. The great histological variety of tumours in that region may result in different treatments which can be associated. MRI, therefore, plays an important role in pretherapeutic morphological evaluation. Fifteen patients with tumour of the third ventricle were examined by MRI before treatment. The results of these examinations were compared with the pathological data and the therapeutic procedures: ventricular shunting, stereotactic needle biopsy, radio- or chemotherapy and surgery. MRI cannot provide a formal histological characterization, but it can individualise some categories of tumours, give details on the walls of the third ventricle (notably in the case of bifocal pineal and suprassellar lesions), visualize the paths of CSF flow and predict the need for cisternoventriculostomy, and detect venous structures in the vicinity of the great cerebral vein which might result in post-biopsy and post-surgery complications.
Levrier
O
O
Service de Neuroradiologie, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
Farnarier
P
P
Peragut
J C
JC
Peretti
P
P
Rumeau
C
C
Perez-Castillo
A M
AM
Salamon
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D013724:Teratoma / Q000175:diagnosis