SINONASAL ESTHESIONEUROBLASTOMA WITH INTRACRANIAL EXTENSION - MARGINAL TUMOR CYSTS AS A DIAGNOSTIC MR FINDING

PURPOSE: To determine whether the MR finding of cysts along the intrac ranial margin of sinonasal esthesioneuroblastomas can be considered to suggest this tumor. METHODS: MR scans of 54 patients who had sinonasa l lesions with intracranial extension were examined specifically for c ysts along the intracranial margins of the lesions. RESULTS: Only 3 of the 54 patients had these cysts, and all 3 of these patients had esth esioneuroblastoma. Surgical pathologic findings of one specimen showed the cyst to be marginally located within the tumor. CONCLUSION: If cy sts are seen on MR along the intracranial margin of a sinonasal mass, this finding highly suggests esthesioneuroblastoma.