Comparisons of MR Findings Between Supratentorial and Infratentorial Gangliogliomas

Abstract

Purpose: Ganglioglioma is an uncommon intracranial disorder. The purpose of our study was to describe the different MR characteristics between supratentorial and infratentorial gangliogliomas and to evaluate the diagnostic value of MR imaging for the disorder.

Methods: The MR images of 33 patients with intracranial gangliogliomas from July 2007 to November 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the images in relation to the following variables: location, size, cystic changes, cortical changes, and enhancement pattern.

Results: Histological diagnosis was achieved in all cases by surgery. Tumors were divided into a supratentorial group (n = 24) and an infratentorial group (n = 9) according to their location. In the supratentorial group, tumor dimensions varied from 0.5 to 5 cm (mean dimension, 2.7 cm). Cystic (n = 2), cystic-solid (n = 10), and solid (n = 12) tumors without cortical changes had variable enhancement in this group. In the infratentorial group, tumor dimensions varied from 4 to 7 cm (mean dimension, 5.2 cm). Solid (n = 7) tumors with ipsilateral cerebellar cortical atrophy (n = 7) had remarkable heterogeneous enhancement in this group.

Conclusions: MR imaging features of supratentorial gangliogliomas are non-specific. Relatively larger solid masses with remarkable heterogeneous enhancement and ipsilateral cerebellar cortical atrophy in the infratentorial region are suggestive of ganglioglioma. As such, cerebellar cortical atrophy may be a specific finding that is well demonstrated with MR imaging. Although MR findings can provide some evidence for this rare entity, a differential diagnosis is still needed.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Ganglioglioma; Infratentorial; MR; Supratentorial.