Typical tumors of suprasellar region of a child Craniopharyngiomas are cystic lesions that often contain calcium. These may be confused with Rathke cleft cysts, which are remnants of the Rathke pouch, the structure that forms the anterior portion of the pituitary gland. Other tumors include tumors of hypothalamic origin (gliomas or hamartomas), optic nerve tumors …
Why is thickening of the pituitary stalk an important finding? Close interval follow-up is warranted because this thickening may be a manifestation of a germinoma or Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Alternatively, the thickening may be idiopathic. The pituitary stalk is considered thickened if it is greater than 2 mm at the insertion of the gland.
What are the most common brain tumors in infants? Although pediatric brain tumors are generally more likely to occur within the posterior fossa, in infants 2 years old or younger, the most common individual tumors are supratentorial. These include teratoma, astrocytoma (e.g., glioblastoma multiforme [GBM]), choroid plexus papilloma and carcinoma (in the lateral ventricles), and …
How is neurofibromatosis type 2 different from type 1? The gene for NF-2 is on chromosome 22, as opposed to chromosome 17 for NF-1. NF-2 tumors can be remembered with the mnemonic MISME , which stands for M ultiple I nherited S chwannomas, M eningiomas, and E pendymomas. Classically, these appear as bilateral cerebellopontine angle tumors, representing bilateral vestibular schwannomas, which are diagnostic of NF-2, but may …
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What are TORCH infections? The acronym TORCH stands for infections caused by T oxoplasmosis, O ther (varicella zoster virus, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], parvovirus B19, enterovirus, etc.), R ubella virus, C ytomegalovirus (CMV), and H erpes simplex virus. How do TORCH infections appear radiographically? It is often impossible to distinguish TORCH infections radiographically. Intracranial calcification patterns may aid in differentiating them. CMV calcifications are classically …
CNS manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) Patients with NF-1 may have plexiform neurofibromas, which are present along nerve distributions and insinuate within the fascial planes of the head and neck. Sphenoid wing dysplasia, with its resultant harlequin eye appearance, is also present at times. Areas of high T2-weighted signal intensity representing spongiform dysplasia are …
How does the corpus callosum develop, and why is this important? The corpus callosum develops front to back except for the rostrum (anterior genu, body, splenium, and rostrum last). This is important because an in utero insult may result in destruction of part of the corpus callosum. If posterior portions of the corpus callosum are …