Imaging of intracranial fat: from normal findings to pathology

Radiol Med. 2021 Jul;126(7):971-978. doi: 10.1007/s11547-021-01365-5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Abstract

The presence of intracranial adipose tissue is often overlooked, although it may be detected in different physiological (dural sinuses or falx deposition of fat) and pathological (lipoma, dermoid cyst, subarachnoid fat dissemination) conditions. In this review, we illustrate various scenarios in which radiologists and neuroradiologists may encounter intracranial fat, providing a list of differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Adipose tissue; Brain; Computed tomography; Fat; Magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Subarachnoid Space / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*