Neuroimaging in pineal tumors.
OBJECTIVE
The authors report radiological findings in 11 tumors in the pineal region, which were histologically diagnosed as germinomas, pineocytomas pineoblastomas, ependymomas, teratomas, and astrocytomas.


METHODS
Computed tomography (CT) was performed in seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients.


RESULTS
CT showed a solid or solid/cystic mass with variable contrast enhancement. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass, with hypointense signal on T1 and iso/hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and gadolinium enhancement. Extension to adjacent structures occurred in five patients and spread through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in two.


CONCLUSIONS
Pineal region tumors have no pathognomonic imaging pattern. MRI and CT are complementary in diagnosis and are important to determine localization, extension, and meningeal spread.
Reis
F
F
Department of Radiology, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Faria
A V
AV
Zanardi
V A
VA
Menezes
J R
JR
Cendes
F
F
Queiroz
L S
LS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D013724:Teratoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed