title: Magnetic resonance imaging of craniopharyngioma.
abstract: Craniopharyngiomas are common tumors located in the suprasellar region. Contrast enhancement, cyst formation, and calcification are the three characteristic features of craniopharyngiomas on computed tomographic scan. More than 90% of suprasellar craniopharyngiomas exhibit at least two of these three features, thus providing easy radiologic detection. We treated a 41-year-old man in whom a large suprasellar craniopharyngioma producing severe visual loss was not detected by computed tomography but was easily identified with magnetic resonance imaging. Thus, despite high-resolution computed tomographic scan, large suprasellar craniopharyngiomas can be missed. Magnetic resonance imaging may be superior to computed tomography in detecting these tumors.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014794:Visual Fields