Different signal intensities between intra- and extracranial components in jugular foramen meningioma: an enigma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively differences in MR signal intensity and contrast enhancement between intra- and extracranial components of jugular foramen meningioma (JFM).


METHODS
MR studies of eight patients who underwent surgery for histologically confirmed JFM were reviewed retrospectively. Signal intensity differences between intra- and extracranial components of all eight JFMs on axial T1-, T2-, and postcontrast T1-weighted images were evaluated visually. In six of the eight JFMs, quantitative signal intensity evaluations were also performed by using relative signal intensity ratios of the intra- and extracranial components of JFM to CNS tissue at the same level. Paired t tests were used to evaluate differences in relative signal intensity ratios in each JFM between intra- and extracranial components.


RESULTS
Both visual and quantitative signal intensity evaluations revealed that signal intensities of the intracranial component of JFM were significantly higher than those of the extracranial component on T1-, T2-, and postcontrast T1-weighted images. Results of relative signal intensity ratios were 0.89 +/- 0.04 versus 0.77 +/- 0.02 on T1-weighted images (P = .002); 1.66 +/- 0.28 versus 0.88 +/- 0.14 on T2-weighted images (P = .003); and 2.16 +/- 0.29 versus 1.77 +/- 0.26 on postcontrast T1-weighted images (P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Intra- and extracranial components of JFM display different signal intensity and enhancement patterns. These differences may be related to histologic composition, and in particular, collagen content.
Shimono
Taro
T
Department of Radiology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Akai
Fumiharu
F
Yamamoto
Akira
A
Kanagaki
Mitsunori
M
Fushimi
Yasutaka
Y
Maeda
Masayuki
M
Miki
Yukio
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies