Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging in the Diagnosis of Early Basal Ganglia Germinoma

Germinomas originating from the basal ganglia (BG) are rare. Early diagnosis is important for favorable prognosis, but it is difficult due to the slow clinical course and subtle changes on neuroimaging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR 2009-10, Vol.30 (9), p.1694-1699
Main Authors: Lou, X, Ma, L, Wang, F.-L, Tang, Z.-P, Huang, H, Cai, Y.-Q, Wong, E.-H.-C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Basal Ganglia - pathology
Basal Ganglia Diseases - diagnosis
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Brain Neoplasms - diagnosis
Child
Cognition. Intelligence
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Medical sciences
Mental imagery. Mental representation
Nervous system
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry
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Summary:Germinomas originating from the basal ganglia (BG) are rare. Early diagnosis is important for favorable prognosis, but it is difficult due to the slow clinical course and subtle changes on neuroimaging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in the diagnosis of early BG germinoma. From 2006 to 2008, 6 BG germinomas were diagnosed in children at our institution by pathology. Conventional MR imaging and SWI were available in all cases. Clinical, neuroradiologic, and follow-up features were retrospectively studied. Three cases were classified as early BG germinomas. Conventional MR imaging demonstrated that the tumor size was 10 mm in largest diameter were classified as late BG germinomas, with tumor necrosis, fluid-fluid levels, and perifocal edema, including 1 case with subependymal spread. On SWI, only the solid portion of the tumors showed hypointensity. No recurrence was noted on follow-up. SWI appears to be more sensitive in detecting early BG germinomas than conventional MR imaging. This capability may prove to be useful in future attempts to characterize early BG germinomas.
ISSN:0195-6108
1936-959X
DOI:10.3174/ajnr.A1696