title: CT and MRI findings of calcified spinal meningiomas: correlation with pathological findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to present characteristic CT and MR findings of calcified spinal meningiomas that correlate with pathological findings and to assess the efficacy of CT for the detection of calcifications within a mass in comparison to MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1998 and 2009, 10 out of 11 patients who had pathologically confirmed psammomatous meningiomas showed gross calcifications on CT images and were included in this study. On CT scans of the 10 patients, the distribution pattern, morphology and number of calcifications within masses were evaluated. MRI was performed in seven patients and signal intensities of masses were assessed. The pathological results analyzed semi-quantitatively were compared with the density or the size of calcifications within a mass as seen on a CT scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven of 10 masses were located at the thoracic spine level. Eight masses had intradural locations. The other two masses had extradural locations. Four masses were completely calcified based on standard radiographs and CT. Symptoms duration, the size of the mass and size or number of calcifications within a mass had no correlation. The location, size, and distribution pattern of calcifications within masses were variable. On MR images, signal intensity of calcified tumor varied on all imaging sequences. All the masses enhanced after injection of intravenous contrast material.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A calcified meningioma should be first suggested when extradural or intradural masses located in the spine contain calcifications regardless of the size or pattern as depicted on CT, especially in the presence of enhancement as seen on MR images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Un
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Hyuck
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Jong Woon
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Kyung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Hak Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
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