THE MENINGEAL SIGN - A NEW APPRAISAL

Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence of the meningeal sign in meningiom as and metastases. Material and methods: We studied 20 patients with m eningiomas and 17 patients with cerebral metastases adjacent to the du ra. MRI studies (Siemens, Magnetom 1,5) included axial T-1-weighted an d T-2-weighted unenhanced as well as gadolinium-DTPA enhanced T-1-weig hted (axial, coronal, sagittal) SE imaging. In all patients the tumour s were resected with the attached dura mater. Histopathological examin ations were done, which corresponded to the area of marked enhancement by gadolinium-DTPA. There was no correlation between the occurrence o f the meningeal sign and the histopathological examinations. Results: In 20 patients with meningiomas adjacent to the dura we found the meni ngeal sign in 11 cases. Histologically we observed an increase of coll agen fibres and fibrocytes. In 5 of 17 cases with superficial cerebral metastases the meningeal sign was seen, histologically as dura infilt rations and microbleedings. Conclusion: The meningeal sign is not spec ific for meningiomas and can be observed in a wide variety of patholog ical entities.