Intracranial meningiomas: magnetic resonance imaging findings in 78 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To present the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of 78 patients with meningiomas diagnosed in a single institution.


METHODS
78 patients with histological proven intracranial meningioma were studied. There were 52 female and 26 male patients (median=56 years). All MR imaging examinations were performed with 1.5-T MR imaging unit with standard protocol. The images were studied by two neuroradiologists, who reached the decisions regarding the findings by consensus.


RESULTS
Most of the tumors showed low signal on T1- (60%) and high signal on T2- (68%) and FLAIR (69%) weighted images. Also, the lesions showed heterogeneous signal on T1 (60%), T2 (68%) and FLAIR (64%) sequences. After contrast administration, 83% (n=65) of the tumors presented accentuated and 17% (n=13) showed moderate enhancement. The tumors were located in the frontal lobe in 44% of the cases, in the parietal lobe in 35%, the occipital lobe in 19% and the temporal lobe in 12% of the patients. Areas of vasogenic edema around the tumors were seen in 90% of the cases. Twenty six per cent of the cases showed bone infiltration, and the dural tail sign was seen in 59% of the tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracranial meningiomas usually show heterogeneous low signal on T1- and high signal on T2-weighted and FLAIR images, with intense enhancement after contrast administration. The frontal and parietal lobes are commonly affected. In addition, brain edema, dural tail sign and bone infiltration are the most frequent associated findings.
Gasparetto
Emerson L
EL
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. egasparetto@gmail.com
Leite
Claudia da Costa
Cda C
Lucato
Leandro T
LT
Barros
Cristiano Ventorin de
CV
Marie
Sueli K N
SK
Santana
Pedro
P
Aguiar
Paulo Henrique Pires de
PH
Rosemberg
Sérgio
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010296:Parietal Lobe; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA