Benign Brain Tumors
Common Benign Brain Tumors:
|
|||
|
MeningiomaCase 1: 80 year old patient presents with anosmia and short term memory loss. Imaging findings: Figure 1
Final impression: Meningioma Most common intracranial benign tumor. Tumor is extra-axial, dural based, often calcified, and enhances intensely. These tumors occur along the dura, falx and tentorium. Dural based meningiomas over the convexity of the brain can be asymptomatic and incidentally discovered. These are often slow growing and do not require resection unless symptomatic. Presents as a mass lesion, with symptoms related to its location. CT and MRI are useful imaging modalities in the evaluation of meningioma. Meningiomas are sharply defined extra-axial tumors with calcifications (20-25%) and intensely enhances like a light bulb when viewed on post-contrast CT/MRI images.
|
||
|
Partially Calcified MeningiomaCase 2: 66 year-old lady presented with numbness involving the left upper and lower extremities. . Imaging findings: Figure 2
Final impression: Partially calcified meningioma involving the right lateral frontal dura |
||
|
Pituitary MacroadenomaCase 3: A 35 year-old woman comes to your office complaining of worsening peripheral vision over the past few months. She also complains of an associated headache that she cannot describe well. Her last menstrual period was seven weeks ago. Neurological exam shows bi-temporal hemianopsia. Imaging findings: Figure 3
Final impression: Pituitary Macroadenoma Microadenomas tend to be small in size and are recognized early due to the hormone secreting features.
|
||
|
CraniopharyngiomaCase 4: Imaging findings: Figure 4
Final impression: In the pediatric age group, this is quite classic for craniopharyngioma. Tumor occurs more commonly in children located in suprasellar region. Tumor is derived from remnant of Rathke pouch secondary to maldifferentiation of Rathke pouch epithelium.. Tumor is very slow growing and may compress optic chiasm and cause bi-temporal hemianopsia. It can increase intracranial pressure due to obstructive hydrocephalus. It can disrupt pituitary function. It is usually cystic and often contains calcium. Hallmark is the appearance of a suprasellar calcified tumor with cystic and enhancing components. Cyst content usually has the same signal intensity as CSF. Capsule enhances with contrast. |