Advanced Imaging of Intracranial Meningiomas

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2016 Apr;27(2):137-43. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2015.11.004. Epub 2016 Feb 18.

Abstract

Although typically not necessary for the diagnosis of intracranial meningiomas, advanced imaging techniques, including perfusion and diffusion imaging, spectroscopy, and nuclear medicine imaging, can help confirm the diagnosis of intracranial meningiomas, especially for meningiomas that do not exhibit the typical anatomic imaging findings. Advanced imaging techniques also have the potential to be able to differentiate between the subtypes of meningiomas, predict clinical aggressiveness of the tumor, and better characterize response to treatment. Although no advanced imaging technique has been able to definitively subclassify meningiomas, current results are encouraging and may be helpful in surgical planning.

Keywords: CT; Diffusion; MRI; Meningioma; PET; Perfusion; SPECT; Spectroscopy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Meningioma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Meningioma / pathology*
  • Perfusion Imaging / methods
  • Spin Labels
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed / methods

Substances

  • Spin Labels