CT and MRI Findings of Solitary Extramedullary Plasmacytoma: A Series of Ten Case Reports and Review of Literature.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to analyze computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of patients with solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma. METHODS: Ten cases with solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma were included in this study. CT and MRI features of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: This study included both males (n = 8) and females (n = 2), with a median age of 48 (range 21-72 years old). The organs or anatomical structures involved were nasopharynx (n = 3), orbit (n = 1), left tentorium (n = 1), nasal cavity and meatus (n = 2), small intestine and mesentery (n = 1), as well as posterior thoracic wall (n = 2). The median maximum diameter of the tumors was 3.2 cm (range 0.8- 15.2 cm). The tumor shapes were round (n = 7), stripped (n = 1), irregular (n = 1), and nodular (n = 1). The margin of the tumors was well-defined (n = 7) and partially well-defined (n = 3). There were 3 cases with bone destruction and 1 with a tissue invasion adjacent to the tumor, calcification (n = 1), and cystic degeneration (n = 2). Enlarged tumoral vessels (n = 4) could also be observed. The CT attenuation and MR signal intensity of tumors were heterogeneous (n = 4) and homogenous (n = 6). After the injection of the contrast agent, marked (n = 5), mild (n = 1), mild to moderate (n = 1), and delayed enhancement (n = 1) could be observed. CONCLUSION: A well-defined homogeneous solitary mass occurring at the head and neck with a marked enhancement, an adjacent tissue invasion, enlarged tumoral vessels, and bone destruction can indicate the diagnosis of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma.

CT and MRI findings of intra-parenchymal and intra-ventricular schwannoma: a series of seven cases.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of patients with intra-parenchymal and intra-ventricular schwannoma. METHODS: The CT and MRI features of seven cases with intra-parenchymal and intra-ventricular schwannoma were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were four men and three women (median age, 25 years; range, 12-42 years) in this study. The median tumor size was 4.4 cm (range, 3.1-6.5 cm). The mass was, respectively, round in four cases (57.1%), lobulated in two cases (28.6%) and oval in one case (14.3%). All tumors were well-circumscribed. Septa in the mass could be observed in three cases (42.9%), and nodular calcification was observed in two cases (28.6%), which peritumoral edema (n = 3, 42.9%) and hydrocephalus (n = 3, 42.9%) could be observed. Most of these lesions (n = 6) presented iso-hypointensity on T1-weighted images and iso-hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, except one lesion showing low intensity on T2WI. In addition, a fluid-fluid level was observed in one case. After contrast agents' injection, all masses illustrated heterogeneously moderate to marked enhancement. CONCLUSIONS: A well-defined solid and cystic mass with calcification and moderate to marked delayed enhancement may be an objective account of intra-parenchymal or intra-ventricular schwannoma.