Papillary endolymphatic sac tumors: CT, MR imaging, and angiographic findings in 20 patients

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the computed tomographic (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and angiographic findings of papillary endolymphatic sac tumors.

Materials and methods: Clinical and imaging studies in 20 patients (aged 17-65 years) with histopathologically proved papillary endolymphatic sac tumors were retrospectively reviewed. Patients underwent CT (n = 18), MR imaging (n = 15), or angiography (n = 12). CT scans were evaluated for bone erosion and calcification; MR images, for signal intensity, enhancement patterns, and flow voids; and angiograms, for tumoral blood supply.

Results: All tumors were destructive and contained calcifications centered in the retrolabyrinthine region at CT. The MR imaging appearance varied with lesion size; 12 of 15 tumors showed increased signal intensity at T1-weighted imaging. The high-signal-intensity area was circumferential in lesions 3 cm or smaller and was scattered throughout the lesion in advanced tumors. Only tumors larger than 2 cm had flow voids. The blood supply arose predominantly from the external carotid artery. Large tumors had additional supply from the internal carotid and posterior circulation.

Conclusion: Papillary endolymphatic sac tumors are destructive, hypervascular lesions that arise from the temporal bone retrolabyrinthine region. Increased signal intensity at unenhanced T1-weighted MR imaging is common and may help distinguish these lesions from more common, aggressive temporal bone tumors.