title: [Iconographic analysis for pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma and Rathke cleft cyst involving both intrasellar and suprasellar regions].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the iconographic differences for pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma and Rathke cleft cyst involving both intrasellar and suprasellar regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 99 eligible pathologically confirmed patients (pituitary adenoma, n = 49; craniopharyngioma, n = 35; Rathke cleft cyst, n = 24) were selected during January 2008 and January 2012. The following characteristics were evaluated: (1) calcification or not and density of tumor on computed tomography (CT); (2) shape, size, extent and component characteristics, signal intensities of solid portions on T2-weighted images, signal intensities of cystic portions on T1-weighted images and enhancement patterns of solid portions and cyst walls and complicated hydrocephaly or not. A flowchart for differential diagnosis for three tumors was constructed based on statistical analysis of the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A snowman shape, solid characteristics and homogeneous enhancement of solid portion were more common in pituitary adenomas; a lobulated shape, third ventricle compression by superior tumor extension, mixed solid and cystic characteristics, reticular enhancement of solid portion, calcification on CT scan and complicated hydrocephalus were more common in craniopharyngioma; an ovoid shape, small tumor size, cystic characteristics and none or thin cyst wall enhancement were more common in Rathke cleft cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above iconography characteristics are helpful in the differential diagnosis of three tumors involving both intrasellar and suprasellar regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Daxing People's Hospital, Beijing 102600, China.
authors.forename: Chao-qiang
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xiao-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Da-li
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China. Email: linsong2005@126.com.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D020863:Central Nervous System Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed