Meningeal metastasis of the cerebellopontine angle demonstrating "dural tail" sign.
Local leptomeningeal enhancement adjacent to a dural-based mass, observed in magnetic resonance images, has been called a "dural tail" and was initially considered a sign specific for meningioma. Recent work has shown that the dural tail (or "flare") sign may also be seen in association with other dural-based lesions. The authors present a case of a dural-based mass in the cerebellopontine angle that had a dural tail; at surgery, the mass proved to be a metastatic lesion. The authors stress that the dural tail sign is not specific for meningioma or neoplastic invasion; it sometimes simply reflects reactive changes. Furthermore, it is not even specific for dural-based masses, as it may be seen in association with both intra-axial and extra-axial lesions.
Quint
D J
DJ
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor 48109-0030.
McGillicuddy
J E
JE
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000473:pathology*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged