Cystic meningioma: imaging diagnosis / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the imaging features and the cause of the cystic meningiomas so as to avoid the misdiagnosis and improve the understanding and knowledge. Methods CT and MRI features in 27 pathologically proved cystic meningiomas were analyzed. There were 10 men and 17 women, and the age ranged from 16 to 80 years with the average age of 49 years. Twenty-six patients were examined by using MRI (24 with enhanced scan), and 15 patients by CT (seven with enhanced scan). 15 patients were examined by both CT and MRI. The image features were analyzed according to Nauta and were compared with operative and pathological findings. Results The cystic meningiomas were mostly epithelial type, but fibrous type, angiomatous type, or papillary type may also be seen. Mostly, the locations were cerebral convexity, but tumors of the tentorium, alisphenoid, olfactory groove, and skull base were also seen. And all were sessile. On imaging, most tumors were parenchymatous with cystic parts, and marked enhancement of the parenchymatous part could be seen. Some were entirely cystic with parenchymatous nodule, the nodule enhanced markedly and the wall of the cyst may be or not be enhanced. Of the 27 cases, four cases were NautaⅠ, seven cases were NautaⅡ, one case was Nauta Ⅲ, and ten cases were Nauta Ⅳ. Three were both Nauta Ⅱand Ⅲ in 3 cases, Nauta Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ in 1 and both Nauta Ⅲ and Ⅳ in 1, respectively. Conclusion The cystic meningiomas have characteristic imaging features. CT and MRI, especially MRI, are valuable in the diagnosis.