Radiology, Vol 182, 783-785, Copyright © 1992 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Cystic fluid in craniopharyngiomas: MR imaging and quantitative analysis

J Ahmadi, S Destian, ML Apuzzo, HD Segall and CS Zee
Department of Radiology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033.

A prospective study of cystic fluid in craniopharyngiomas in 10 patients was performed to correlate signal intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images and biochemical analysis. Within 2 days before surgery, each patient underwent MR imaging before and after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Five patients had cystic fluid lower in signal intensity than white matter, with protein levels less than 9,000 mg/dL (90.00 g/L) and no free methemoglobin. One of the five patients had the highest triglyceride concentration (84 mg/dL [0.95 mmol/L]) of all 10 patients; another of these five had the highest cholesterol concentration of all (270 mg/dL [6.98 mmol/L]). It is concluded that the increased signal intensity of cystic fluid in craniopharyngiomas on T1-weighted MR images can be caused by a protein concentration greater than or equal to 9,000 mg/dL (90.00 g/L), the presence of free methemoglobin, or both. In the ranges of concentrations measured in this study, cholesterol and triglyceride did not increase signal intensity.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. Janardhan, S. Suri, and R. Bakshi Multiple Sclerosis: Hyperintense Lesions in the Brain on Nonenhanced T1-weighted MR Images Evidenced as Areas of T1 Shortening Radiology, September 1, 2007; 244(3): 823 - 831. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Yamada, M. Higashi, R. Otsubo, T. Sakuma, N. Oyama, R. Tanaka, K. Iihara, H. Naritomi, K. Minematsu, and H. Naito Association between Signal Hyperintensity on T1-Weighted MR Imaging of Carotid Plaques and Ipsilateral Ischemic Events AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., February 1, 2007; 28(2): 287 - 292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-Y. Chen, J.-S. Wong, S.-C. Hsieh, J.-S. Chu, and W.P. Chan Intracranial Epidermoid Cyst with Hemorrhage: MR Imaging Findings. AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., February 1, 2006; 27(2): 427 - 429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Shakudo, Y. Inoue, K. Ohata, and S. Tanaka Neurenteric Cyst with Alteration of Signal Intensity on Follow-up MR Images AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., March 1, 2001; 22(3): 496 - 498. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. M. Byun, O. L. Kim, and D. s. Kim MR Imaging Findings of Rathke's Cleft Cysts: Significance of Intracystic Nodules AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., March 1, 2000; 21(3): 485 - 488. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. L. Shin, S. L. Asa, L. J. Woodhouse, H. S. Smyth, and S. Ezzat Cystic Lesions of the Pituitary: Clinicopathological Features Distinguishing Craniopharyngioma, Rathke's Cleft Cyst, and Arachnoid Cyst J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 1999; 84(11): 3972 - 3982. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. Gupta, M. J. Kuhn, D. W. Shevlin, and L. E. Wacaser Metastatic Craniopharyngioma AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., June 1, 1999; 20(6): 1059 - 1060. [Abstract] [Full Text]