MR manifestations of subependymomas

Abstract

Purpose: To provide a description of the MR and enhanced MR appearances of subependymomas.

Methods: We reviewed the MR examinations of eight cases of pathologically proved subependymomas and correlated them with operative and pathologic reports, and also reviewed the previous published cases of subependymomas documented by MR. Gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MR examination was performed in seven cases.

Results: One patient presented with four subependymomas, two patients had subependymomas of the cervical spine, and the others were intraventricular with no transependymal extension. They were isointense to hypointense relative to normal white matter on T1-weighted images, heterogeneous in five cases. Minimal (n = 1) or no (n = 3) enhancement was noted in four cases, and moderate or marked enhancement was noted in three cases.

Conclusion: We conclude that even though there is no specific sign of subependymomas, when confronted with a complete intraventricular lesion or with a spinal lesion causing little or no edema which is minimally enhancing or nonenhancing, one must consider the diagnosis of subependymoma.