Magnetic resonance imaging of primary cerebral gliosarcoma: a report of 15 cases.
BACKGROUND
Gliosarcomas are rare tumors with mixed glial and mesenchymal components. Many of their radiologic features resemble those of other primary brain malignancies.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of gliosarcomas.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the MR images, pathology reports, and clinical information of 11 male and four female patients aged 15-71 years to evaluate the location, morphology, enhancement, and other features of their pathologically confirmed gliosarcomas.


RESULTS
Apart from one tumor in the right cerebellar hemisphere, all were supratentorial. Two tumors were intraventricular, and four involved the corpus callosum. The tumors were well demarcated, with an inhomogeneous or cystic appearance and moderate-to-extensive surrounding edema. Thick walls with strong rim and ring-like enhancement were observed in 13 (87%). Seven (47%) showed intratumoral paliform enhancement.


CONCLUSIONS
Gliosarcoma demonstrates certain characteristic MR features, such as supratentorial and peripheral location, well-demarcated, abutting a dural surface, uneven and thick-walled rim-like or ring enhancement, as well as intratumoral strip enhancement. These findings, combined with patient age, can aid the differential diagnosis of gliosarcomas from more common primary brain tumors.
Han
L
L
Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nan Fang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Zhang
X
X
Qiu
S
S
Li
X
X
Xiong
W
W
Zhang
Y
Y
Qu
H
H
Chang
R
R
Chen
B
B
Wang
W
W
Li
S
S