Purpose: To present proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings of central neurocytoma (CN).
Methods and materials: Imaging findings of seven patients with the histopathological diagnosis of CN (five male and two female; age range, 21-28 years of age) were evaluated retrospectively. In addition to conventional magnetic resonance imaging features, we also assessed the metabolite ratios and tumor normalized apparent diffusion coefficient (NADC), which was calculated by dividing the tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values by normal ADC. Approval from our institutional review board was obtained for this review.
Results: The tumor choline/creatine ratios were 5.17+/-2.38, while N-acetyl aspartate/choline and N-acetyl aspartate/creatine ratios were 0.33+/-0.15 and 1.84+/-1.38, respectively. On DWI, tumors had heterogeneous hyperintense appearances when compared with the contralateral parietal lobe white matter and tumor NADC values were 0.63+/-0.05.
Conclusion: Significantly increased choline/creatine and decreased N-acetyl aspartate/choline ratios with lower NADC values in CN resemble high-grade gliomas and complicate the diagnosis. Familiarity its physiologic features would help to presurgical diagnosis of ventricular and exraventricular CNs.