SUPRATENTORIAL PRIMARY INTRAAXIAL TUMORS IN CHILDREN - MR AND CT EVALUATION

Purpose: To evaluate the MR and CT features of pediatric supratentoria l intra-axial tumors with respect to differential diagnosis and the ro le of each investigation modality. Material and Methods: MR and CT fin dings in 40 children with 12 types of pathologically proven histologic al tumors were reviewed. Results: The location of tumors might be one clue to differential diagnosis. In our material, cysts (60%), calcific ations (45%), and intratumoral hemorrhages (27%) were found in the tum ors. Characteristic features noted in some lesions included: peritumor al hemosiderin deposition in cavernous angiomas; intratumoral flow voi d in a choroid plexus carcinoma and in glioblastomas; and hemicerebral atrophy in germinomas. A comparison between malignant and benign tumo rs showed perifocal edema and a mass effect to be significantly more c ommon in malignant lesions. Homogeneous enhancement suggested a benign tumor and an inhomogeneous pattern represented malignancy, while the lack of obvious enhancement did not always suggest benignity. Intratum oral calcium deposition was a not uncommon finding in malignant tumors . Conclusion: In most cases, the exact diagnosis should be made by his tological examination but it is important for treatment planning that the appropriate depiction of tumor extension and tissue characterizati on be made by MR and CT.