[High-field MRI and pathological diagnosis of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (sPNET) and improve the diagnosis of this disease.


METHODS
MRI manifestations of 14 cases of PNET were retrospectively analyzed and compared with their pathological features.


RESULTS
The supratentorial lesions involved the occipital lobe in 4, frontal lobe in 3, fronto-occipital lobe in 2, temporo-occipital lobe in 3, lateral ventricle in 1 case and the saddle region in 1. All the lesions were large in volume and most of them presented heterogeneous signals in MRI. Of the 14 cases, 12 showed cystic degeneration and necrosis, 2 had hemorrhage and 6 showed signs of emptied small blood vessels. Twelve cases had heterogeneous enhancement and 2 had moderate enhancement. Pathologically, 10 cases of neuroblastomas were identified, along with 3 ganglioneuroblastomas and 1 atypical rhabdoid tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI findings of PNET are rather characteristic to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, but a final definite diagnosis still relies on pathological examination.
Qiu
Shi-jun
SJ
Diagnositic Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. qiu-sj@163.com
Guo
Yan-li
YL
Zhang
Xue-lin
XL
Hu
Ba-sheng
BS
Zhang
Yu-zhong
YZ
Wen
Ge
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018242:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult