The usefulness of MR imaging in the diagnosis of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor in children: a study of 14 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs) are benign lesions affecting children and are associated with epilepsy. The goal of our study was to better characterize the clinical-radiologic-pathologic spectrum of DNTs (complex and simple forms only) in a series of 14 children.


METHODS
Clinical, neuroradiologic, and pathologic features of all cases were retrospectively studied.


RESULTS
Eleven cases of complex and three cases of simple DNTs were identified. Mean follow-up was 87 months, and no recurrence was recorded except for one case of simple DNT. We found that some neuroradiologic features may be helpful to support the diagnosis of DNT: presence of "septations," triangular pattern of distribution, and absence of contrast enhancement.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence of the specific glioneuronal element is found by pathologic examination, but the typical neuroradiologic aspect of DNT suggests this diagnosis preoperatively. Radiologic examination may be helpful for the diagnosis of DNT when pathologic findings are inconclusive.
Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Hôpital d'Enfants de la Timone, Marseille, France.
Carla
C
Fernandez
Nadine
N
Girard
Armando
A
Paz Paredes
Corinne
C
Bouvier-Labit
Gabriel
G
Lena
Dominique
D
Figarella-Branger
D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018302:Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies