J Korean Soc Radiol.  2018 Nov;79(5):294-301. 10.3348/jksr.2018.79.5.294.

Atypical Appearance and Location of Subependymomas: A Report of Two Cases

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea. silwater007@hallym.or.kr
  • 2Department of Pathology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
  • 3Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.

Abstract

Subependymomas are rare benign central nervous system tumor which account of 0.7% of all intracranial tumors. Subependymomas show characteristic MR findings according to their location. However, sometimes atypical findings could be found. In addition, subependymomas can occur very rarely in the spinal cord. We report two cases of pathologically confirmed subependymoma, one of which shows atypical appearances in spite of their intraventicular location and the other of which shows rare case of spinal intramedullary subependymoma. We review the clinical symptoms and radiologic findings of two cases


MeSH Terms

Brain Neoplasms
Central Nervous System
Glioma, Subependymal*
Spinal Cord

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Brain CT and MR images of intraventricular subependymoma in a 54-year-old man with dizziness for 3 weeks. A. Non enhanced CT shows a low density tumor at right lateral ventricle with a high density foci (arrow). B. Contrast enhanced CT shows minimal enhancement in the mass (arrow). C. T1-weighted image reveals a large intraventricular iso-signal intensity mass (arrow) with internal cystic component in right lateral ventricle, abutting to septum pellucidum. The size of the mass is measured to approximately 3.5 × 2.8 × 3.2 cm. D. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery shows the intraventricular mass showed high signal intensity (arrow) without evidence of extraventricular infiltration. E. There is also scatted foci of hypo-intensity (arrows) on susceptibility weighted image indicating presence of calcific deposits and/or blood. F. The axial contrast enhanced T1-weighted image shows heterogeneous enhancement (arrow).

  • Fig. 2 Spine MR images of eccentric intramedullary subependymoma in a 50-year-old man with back pain and radiating left thigh pain. A. The sagittal T2WI shows the intramedullary high signal intensity mass (arrow) at the thoracic 6 level of spinal cord. B. The axial T2WI reveals the high signal intensity mass (arrow) with clear cut demarcated interface between the spinal cord and the tumor and no definite peritumoral edema or infiltration. C. The mass shows hypo-intensity (arrow) on sagittal T1WIs. D, E. The sagittal and axial contrast enhanced T1WIs show no demonstrable enhancement (arrow). T1WI = T1-weighted images, T2WI = T2-weighted image


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