MR imaging of cerebral extraventricular neurocytoma: a report of 9 cases

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2013 Mar;34(3):541-6. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A3264. Epub 2012 Oct 4.

Abstract

Extraventricular neurocytoma is a rare entity, most frequently occurring in brain parenchyma outside the ventricular system. The purpose of this study was to characterize the MR imaging findings in a series of 9 patients with EVN verified by results of pathologic examination. All 9 EVNs were solitary and intracranially located. Eight lesions were well demarcated, and 3 showed intratumoral hemorrhage. The solid parts of 7 tumors were primarily isointense on T1-weighted images and heterogeneously enhanced on T1WI with contrast. Although cerebral EVNs can present a wide spectrum of appearances on MR, the imaging patterns appear to vary according to anatomic location and cellularity. Lesions in frontal or parietal lobes often present as well-demarcated large masses with cystic degeneration, hemorrhage, mild-to-moderate edema, and inhomogeneous enhancement. Moreover, the general isointensity of the solid parts of EVN on T1WI may be of some specificity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurocytoma / pathology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Young Adult