Radiologic characteristics of primitive neuroectodermal tumors in children

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1985 Jan-Feb;6(1):15-8.

Abstract

Radiographic findings are reviewed in 31 children with primitive neural ectodermal tumors seen at the Hospital for Sick Children from 1962 through 1983. Seventeen children were initially evaluated with computed tomography (CT). Ten of these had both CT studies and angiography. The tumors were large, irregular, typically iso- to hyperdense, and showed dense, heterogeneous contrast enhancement. Cysts were present in 65% and calcifications in 71% of cases. The angiographic findings were nonspecific, ranging from avascular to markedly vascular. Although these tumors were usually found in the cerebral hemisphere, particularly the frontal lobes, two cases are included of tumors arising elsewhere: one in the pineal and one in the suprasellar region. Epidemiologic data are reviewed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / mortality
  • Skull / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*