MR findings of metastatic brain tumors.
10.3348/jkrs.1993.29.3.355
- Author:
Joong Mo AHN
;
Kee Hyun CHANG
;
Moon Hee HAN
;
Sang Hoon CHA
;
Jae Wook RYOO
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Brain Neoplasms*;
Brain*;
Breast Neoplasms;
Carcinoma, Renal Cell;
Cerebrum;
Diagnosis;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Edema;
Humans;
Lung Neoplasms;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Melanoma;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Ovarian Neoplasms;
Protons;
Rectal Neoplasms;
Stomach Neoplasms;
Thyroid Neoplasms
- From:Journal of the Korean Radiological Society
1993;29(3):355-361
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MR) findings of metastatic brain tumors with emphasis on the signal intensities of the lesion on MR. Thirty four patients with intracranial metastases were studies with MR imaging. The diagnosis was established on the basis of either brain biopsy or combination of brain MR findings and the presence of primary tumors. The primary tumors include lung cancer (n=18), breast cancer (n=3), stomach cancer (n=3), rectal cancer (n=1), renal cell carcinoma (n=1), hepatocellular carcinoma(n=1), ovarian cancer (n=1), thyroid cancer (n=1), melanoma (n=1) and unknown primary sites (n=4). The parenchymal lesions were solitary in 35% (12/34) and multiple in 65% (22/34). The size of the lesions was variable, ranging from several millimeters to 5cm in diameter. The corticomedullar junction of the cerebral heispheres was the most common location of the lesions (68%). The signal intensity of solid portion of the lesions was usually either isointense (44%) or hypointense (29%) on T1-weighted images, whereas it appeared in isointense (47%), hypointense (8%) or hyperintense (11%) on proton density-weighted or T2-weighted images. The remaining cases showed mixed signal intensities. The enhancement patterns were variable including nodular (<1cm) (6%), homogenous (19%), heterogeneous (10%), ring-like enhancement (22%) or mixed pattern(43%). The size of surrounding edema was larger than the tumor diameter in 76%. In conclusion, although there are no specific MR findings of intracranial metastasis except multiplicity, intracranial metastasis should be included in differential diagnosis with high priority, when a solitary mass showing isointensity on boty T1-and T2-weighted images with massive surrounding edema, especially in the corticomedullary junction of the cerebral hemispheres is encountered.
