Neuro Flashcards
top 2 intradural extramedullary lesions
meningioma, schwannoma
top 2 intradural intramedullary tumors
ependymoma
astrocytoma
(both make up 70% of total spinal cord tumors, E more common in adults, A in children)
classic presentation of intradural intramedullary lesions
insidious, progressive back pain worse with lying down, radicular pain and often neurologic deficits
Intra-dural/intraaxial compartment means what?
everything inside the PIA mater (WM, GM, ependymal lining -> embryonic neuroectoderm)
neuroepithelial tumor categories/subtypes
glial, neuronal, pineal, embryonal
Glial tumor subtypes
astrocytic, oligodendroglial, ependymal, choroid plexus
which is more common in the adult spine - ependymal or astrocytic lesions
ependymal
which is more common in the adult brain - ependymal or astrocytic lesions
astrocytic
WHO ependymal tumors
Grade I: subependymoma/ myxopapillary ependymoma,
Grade II: ependymoma/ ependymoma RELA fusion-positive (grades II and III),
Grade III: anaplastic ependymoma
Classic features of ependymal tumors
well circumscribed, non-infiltrative enhancing mass, centrally located in the spinal cord
- T1 hypo/iso, T2 iso/hyper + heterogenous with cystic/blood products
- +/- syrinx formation (CSF flow disruption)
- very heterogenous - think anaplastic
most common intramedullary tumor in adults
ependymoma
typical location for astrocytoma in spinal cord - central or eccentric ?
eccentric
NF2 common CNS tumor types
ependymomas, schwanommas and meningiomas
- frequently present with multiple lesions, at young ages
myxopapillary ependymoma features
- slow growing variant of SC ependymomas, 13% of all spinal ependymal tumors
- M > F
- T2 hyperintense enhancing mass, often with cyst/syrinx/hemorrhagic changes
- +/- hemosiderin cap
subependymoma features
slow growing glioma
- benign, WHO Gr 1
- middle age + older (slight M>F)
- most common in 4th and lateral ventricles
- very rare in the spine
- T2 hyper, T1 iso/hypo. usually NO enhancement
Astrocytoma grade categories
pilocytic (Gr1), diffuse (Gr2), anaplastic (Gr3), glioblastoma (Gr4)
important prognostic marker for astrocytomas
IDH (isocitrate dehydrogenase)
most common primary intra-axial tumor of SC in kids
pilocytic astrocytoma
intracranial pilocytic astrocytoma features
- young ppl; 75% by 20.
- 2nd MC primary brain tumor in kids (after medulloblastoma)
associated with NF1 (optic path) - 60% cerebellum, 20-30% CN2
- well-circumscribed, variable imaging appearance; 67% - large cystic mass with E+ mural nodule , 16% mixed cystic/solid, 17% solid.
spinal astrocytomas
eccentrically positioned
appearance depends on subtype
- E+ correlates with tumor grade
- Gr3 and 4 => poor prognosis
ganglioglioma
Gr1
- arises MC in the cortex, then GM in hypothalamus/brainstem, rarer in spine
- circumscribed enhancing mass with cystic changes
3rd MC spinal cord tumor
hemangioblastoma
hemangioblastoma
relatively benign non-aggressive tumors of mensenchymal origin
- often VHL mutations (TSG on Cr 3)
- 80% in cerebellum. <20% in spinal cord (3rd most common intramedullary lesion, 2-6%)
hemangioblastoma imaging features
hypervascular enhancing tumor at the pial surface
- ‘cyst with nodule’ in >50%
- T1 variable, T2 iso/hyper, vivid enhancement
- may have ++flow voids, vasogenic edema