title: MR characteristics of meningioma subtypes at 1.5 tesla.
abstract: Analysis of MR signal characteristics and histopathologic findings confirms the strong correlation between meningioma subtype and observed signal intensity (SI) changes in 24 patients imaged at 1.5 T. On T2-weighted images, 90% of fibroblastic and transitional tumors were hypointense relative to cerebral cortex (SI intermediate greater than SI T2-weighted images); conversely, 66% of meningothelial subtypes displayed persistent hyperintensity (SI intermediate less than or equal to SI T2-weighted images), and the remaining one-third demonstrated mixed high-signal changes. Subtype specific differences in collagen distribution and cellularity, i.e., tumor geometry, appeared to account for these signal trends. Based solely on SI characteristics, correct histologic subgrouping of tumors as either fibroblastic/transitional or meningothelial/angioblastic was possible in 80% (19 of 24) of patients. Utilization of adjunctive imaging features (i.e., mass effect, peritumoral edema, intratumoral cyst formation) in conjunction with signal changes permitted a correct histologic pattern in 96% (23 of 24) of patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coons
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Drayer
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA