Bonthu Anuradha1, Bomidi Sudharani2, Kaki Radharani3, Velamala Sarat Chand4, Karri Sambasiva Rao5, Pasam Kusumalatha6
OBJECTIVE
To present the magnetic resonance imaging findings of 30 cases of intracranial meningiomas diagnosed in a single institute. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast is the modality of choice for diagnosis of meningiomas. Objective of this study was to describe typical and atypical locations and findings of intracranial meningiomas on magnetic resonance imaging.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted at Department of Radiology, Government General Hospital, Kakinada from January 2013 to August 2014 over a period of 20 months. 30 patients of intracranial meningiomas of 15-75 years’ age group were studied.
RESULTS
A higher incidence noted in females. Most of the tumours are solitary. The most common sites of occurrence are the cerebral convexities, parasagittal location/falx, posterior fossa, sphenoid ridge, olfactory groove. Majority were typical (WHO grade 1) in 96.6%, only 3.4% were atypical (WHO grade 2). Most of the tumours showed low signal on T1- (60%) and high signal on T2- (68%) and FLAIR (69%) weighted images. Also, the lesions showed heterogeneous signal on T1 (60%), T2 (68%) and FLAIR (64%) sequences. After contrast administration, 67% of the tumours presented intense and 33% showed moderate and heterogenous enhancement. The most common sites of occurrence are the cerebral convexities, parasagittal location/falx, posterior fossa, sphenoid ridge, olfactory groove and others accounting for 33.3%, 20%, 20%, 10%, 6.7%, 10% respectively. Areas of vasogenic oedema around the tumours were seen in 33% of the cases. Twenty percent of the cases showed bone infiltration, and the dural tail sign was seen in 56% of the tumours.
CONCLUSION
The diagnosis of meningioma is usually straightforward except when it presents in unusual locations and with atypical imaging characteristics. MRI is the modality of choice for diagnosis as well as for predicting the success of its complete removal.
