title: The different faces of central nervous system metastases.
abstract: Cerebral metastases are the commonest central nervous system tumors. The MR assessment should include T1-weighted images with and without enhancement and T2/FLAIR images. They usually appear as multiple lesions with nodular or annular enhancement and are surrounded by edema. They are hypervascularized and have no restriction of their diffusion coefficient in their necrotic area and contain lipids on 1H spectroscopy. Metastases can be distinguished from primary tumors by the lack of malignant cell infiltration around the tumor. Stereotactic radiotherapy may temporarily increase tumor volume, although this is not of adverse oncological value. Less commonly, spinal disease may be asymptomatic and should be examined by MR.
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology and MR University Clinic, Grenoble University Hospital, CS10217, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France. Electronic address: sgrand@chu-grenoble.fr.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grand
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy University Clinic, Grenoble University Hospital, CS10217, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasteris
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology and MR University Clinic, Grenoble University Hospital, CS10217, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attye
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology and MR University Clinic, Grenoble University Hospital, CS10217, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Le Bas
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology and MR University Clinic, Grenoble University Hospital, CS10217, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krainik
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods; D016634:Radiosurgery
keywords: Advanced imaging; Central nervous system tumors; Conventional imaging; Metastases