Neuroimaging of pediatric craniopharyngiomas: a pictorial essay.
Craniopharyngiomas are benign, partly cystic epithelial tumors that account for 5-13% of all intracranial tumors and 50% of all suprasellar masses in children. They pose several challenges to the neuroradiologist. This paper aims to focus on the main issues regarding the neuroradiological diagnosis and follow-up after treatment. Topics include (i) the imaging modalities (i.e., CT and MRI) utilized in the diagnostic workup; (ii) the neuroradiological appearance, focusing on calcifications, cystic components, contrast enhancement, and location; (iii) the relationships to adjacent structures, such as the optic chiasm, hypothalamus, third ventricle, and circle of Willis; (iv) the differential diagnosis with other tumoral and non-tumoral entities occurring in the sellar/suprasellar area; and (v) post-treatment imaging issues.
Rossi
Andrea
A
Department of Pediatric Neuroradiology, G. Gaslini Children's Research Hospital, Genoa, Italy. andrearossi@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
Cama
Armando
A
Consales
Alessandro
A
Gandolfo
Carlo
C
Garrè
Maria Luisa
ML
Milanaccio
Claudia
C
Pavanello
Marco
M
Piatelli
Gianluca
G
Ravegnani
Marcello
M
Tortori-Donati
Paolo
P
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed