Radiology, Vol 159, 165-170, Copyright © 1986 by Radiological Society of North America
The postcraniectomy site: CT appearance
CF Lanzieri, PM Som, M Sacher, P Solodnik and F Moore
The hospital records and computed tomographic (CT) scans of 124
postcraniectomy patients were reviewed. The normal CT appearance of the
operative site was defined and referred to as the "meningogaleal complex"
(MGC). The CT characteristics of postoperative infections, intraaxial tumor
recurrences, extraaxial tumor recurrences, and the various forms of
postoperative cerebrospinal fluid collections were identified and
differentiated by comparison with the normal scans. Specifically, when
compared with the "postoperative baseline" anatomy, smooth thickening of
the MGC often indicated postoperative infection (six cases), while nodular
thickening heralded recurrent extraaxial tumor (eight cases). Recurrent
intraaxial tumor adjacent to the craniectomy site caused no change in the
MGC itself. A knowledge of the normal postoperative appearance of the MGC
as well as good communication with the neurosurgeon can allow earlier
detection of postoperative complications.
