CT and MR Imaging Features of Central Nervous System Hemangiopericytoma / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose Central nervous system (CNS) hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is rare in clinic and prone to misdiagnosis. This paper aims to improve the diagnostic accuracy of CNS HPC by analyzing the MRI and CT features. Materials and Methods CT and MRI appearances and pathologic features of 14 cases with surgery and pathology proved CNS HPC were analyzed retrospectively. Results There were intracranial and intraspinal lesions in 12 and 2 cases respectively. 5 cases were lobular, 4 cases irregular, and 5 cases were round or oval in shapes. On CT scan, 2 intracranial lesions showed slight hyperdensity and were avidly enhanced following contrast injection. On T1WI, 11 cases showed isointensity compared with brain white matter;on T2WI, 10 cases showed isointensity compared with brain gray matter. Marked heterogeneous enhancement was shown in 7 cases. Necrosis and cystic changes were seen in 6 cases. Flow-void sign was seen in 9 cases;9 cases were attached to meninges through narrow base. Dural tail sign was observed in 4 cases. Bone erosion was seen in 4 cases. In 5 cases with DWI scan, isointensity was shown in 4 cases and slight hyperintensity in 1 case. The density and signals in 2 cervical spine lesions were uniform with homogenous enhancement;expansive bone swelling in 1 case. Conclusion CNS HPC shows hyperdensity on CT. They present equal signal compared with white matter on T1WI and equal signal compared with grey matter on T2WI, with some void signal of vessel, and isointense on diffusion weighted images. Tumor invades adjacent skull with rare dural tail sign.