Intracranial solitary fibrous tumors: imaging findings in 6 consecutive patients.
OBJECTIVE
Intracranial solitary fibrous tumors (ISFTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms originating in the meninges. The aim of this study was to describe the CT, MR imaging, and angiographic features of the solitary fibrous tumor and to identify imaging characteristics.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed CT, MR, and angiographic findings in 6 cases of ISFT. We evaluated the size, shape, and location of the tumor; the internal content and margin of the lesion; the pattern of enhancement; and the change of the adjacent structures. Density on noncontrast CT scans, signal intensity on MR images, and angiographic features were also documented.


RESULTS
Each lesion appeared as a discrete extra-axial mass (size, 3-7 cm; mean, 5 cm). Five lesions were entirely solid, and 1 had peritumoral cyst. All 5 of the noncontrast CT scans showed hyperattenuated masses, and the tumors exhibited marked heterogeneous enhancement. No lesion contained calcification, and 2 cases showed bone invasions. On the MR images, 4 lesions showed mixed signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging. All of the lesions revealed marked heterogeneous enhancement. All of the tumors had thickening of the meninges adjacent to the tumor. Angiography showed delayed tumor blushing in all, and 3 of them had dysplastic dilation of the tumor vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there are no pathognomonic imaging findings, some imaging features, such as the "black-and-white mixed" pattern on T2-weighted images and marked heterogeneous enhancement, might be helpful in the diagnosis of intracranial solitary fibrous tumor.
Weon
Y C
YC
Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ycweon@hanmail.net
Kim
E Y
EY
Kim
H-J
HJ
Byun
H S
HS
Park
K
K
Kim
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000175:diagnosis; D018218:Neoplasms, Fibrous Tissue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed