CT and MRI findings of calcified spinal meningiomas: correlation with pathological findings.
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.
Lee
Ji Won
JW
Department of Radiology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Lee
In Sook
IS
Choi
Kyung-Un
KU
Lee
Young Hwan
YH
Yi
Jae Hyuck
JH
Song
Jong Woon
JW
Suh
Kyung Jin
KJ
Kim
Hak Jin
HJ
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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