Intraventricular mass lesions at magnetic resonance imaging: iconographic essay - part 2

Abstract

The present essay is illustrated with magnetic resonance images obtained at the authors' institution over the past 15 years and discusses the main imaging findings of intraventricular tumor-like lesions (colloid cyst, oligodendroglioma, astroblastoma, lipoma, cavernoma) and of inflammatory/infectious lesions (neurocysticercosis and an atypical presentation of neurohistoplasmosis). Such lesions represent a subgroup of intracranial lesions with unique characteristics and some imaging patterns that may facilitate the differential diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION

Intraventricular tumors represent a subgroup of intracranial lesions with typical and unique features, which can be considered apart from the classical subdivisions into intraand extra-axial tumors⁽¹⁾. Although they are easily visualized, the differential diagnosis among lesions may be difficult without the knowledge of the types of tissues which originate such tumors⁽²⁾.

The ventricles are surrounded by a layer of ependymal cells and a subependymal plate formed by glial cells. Such layers give origin to ependymomas, subependymomas and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas. Such a lining and the septum pellucidum that is located between the corpus callosum and the fornix, separating the lateral ventricles, also give origin to the central neurocytoma, a unique glial neuronal tumor of the ventricular systems⁽²⁾.

The choroid plexus is the most vascularized portion of the ventricular system and produces the cerebrospinal fluid. Primary neoplasms of this tissue are highly vascularized and are commonly associated with hydrocephalus due to increased production of cerebrospinal fluid. Such lesions occur in a benign form, the choroid plexus papilloma, and less frequently in a malignant presentation, the choroid plexus carcinoma. Tumors such as meningiomas and metastases may also occur in this location.

Masses are more frequently found in the posterior portion of the lateral ventricles⁽²⁾, but their location may vary according to the type of tumor. Choroid plexus papillomas occur mainly in children, with predilection for the lateral ventricles in this age range, while in adults it is usually more frequently found in the fourth ventricle. Ependymomas occur more frequently in the posterior fossa in children, and in adults they are generally supratentorial.

Many times, inflammatory/infectious lesions are observed within the ventricular system and among them neurocysticercosis is very common in Brazil. Other less frequent conditions, such as histoplasmosis, may also be observed.

In the present essay, the authors have gathered images obtained over the past 15 years at the Radiology Service of Hospital de Clínicas - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The study was duly approved by the Committee for Ethics in Research of the Institution.

RADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS

Colloid cyst

It is a benign lesion that usually develops in the anterosuperior aspect of the third ventricle, adjacent to the Monro's foramen⁽¹⁾ and is the most common lesion in this region⁽³⁾. They are rounded-shaped or ovoid lesions, with smooth walls, and may be associated with obstructive hydrocephalus, either intermittent or not. At computed tomography (CT), the cysts may be either iso- or hyperdense, with no contrast uptake, or with peripheral contrast uptake. At magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Figure 1) the signal intensity is variable, depending upon the contents of the cyst⁽³⁾, with hyperor isosignal on T1-weighted sequences, as compared with the cerebrospinal fluid; and with hypo- to hypersignal on T2weighted sequences, with mixed signal in some cases⁽¹⁾.

Figura 1.

Paciente do sexo masculino, 36 anos. TC axial sem contraste (A) mostra lesão espontaneamente hiperdensa localizada no forame de Monro e porção anterior do terceiro ventrículo, determinando ectasia do ventrículo lateral esquerdo. RM coronal (B) e axial T1 pós-contraste (C) mostra lesão sólida sem aparente captação pelo contraste. Nos cortes axiais em T2 (D) a lesão tem isossinal. O estudo anatomopatológico revelou cisto coloide.

Oligodendroglioma

Oligodendrogliomas manifest as well defined, roundshaped or ovoid masses involving the cortex or the subcortical white matter. At intraventricular location, they are adjacent to the septum pellucidum and present imaging and pathological features very similar to those of central neurocytoma, and are differentiated only at immunohistochemical study. At CT, they may be hypodense, isodense and even hyperdense. Calcifications are observed in 20-91% of cases. Cystic or hemorrhagic degeneration may be found. MRI is superior to CT in the evaluation of tumor extent, and the tumor usually is hypointense in relation to the gray matter on T1-weighted sequences and hyperintense on T2-weighted sequences. Heterogeneity of signal intensity is the rule (Figure 2)^(1,2).

Figura 2.

Paciente do sexo masculino, 31 anos. RM coronal T1 (A) demonstra lesão sólido-cística, heterogênea, de baixo sinal, com alguns focos de hipersinal (hemorragia) e hipossinal (calcificações), localizada no ventrículo lateral esquerdo. Em T1 pós-contraste (B,C) há intenso realce na parte sólida. Em T2 (D) a lesão tem hipersinal. Há sinais de extensão/infiltração do parênquima encefálico adjacente. Biópsia revelou oligodendroglioma.

Astroblastoma

It is a rare tumor, which usually presents as a large peripheral supratentorial tumor. At MRI (Figure 3), they are solid-cystic tumors with a characteristic bubbly feature of the solid component and isosignal on T2-weighted sequences. One observes a mild perilesional hypersignal, disproportionate to the tumor size⁽⁴⁾.

Figura 3.

Paciente do sexo masculino, 12 anos. RM axial T1 pós-contraste (A) revela lesão sólida, sem evidência de necrose, localizada no septo pelúcido, com captação intensa pelo contraste (B,C). Em T2 (D) a lesão apresenta isossinal e extensa alteração do sinal que envolve o parênquima encefálico adjacente. Apesar do padrão de imagem atípico em relação ao descrito pela literatura, a biópsia revelou astroblastoma

Lipoma

Intracranial lipoma is a rare congenital malformation that more commonly occurs in the pericallosal region. At images, they are identified as well defined lobulated lesions, with fat density/intensity, located on the medial line. At CT, such tumors present as lesions with fat density (-50 to -100 UH), sometimes with calcifications, mainly the tubulonodular type, with no contrast uptake. At MRI, they present with hypersignal on T1-weighted sequences, with signal intensity drop on T1-weighted sequences with fat suppression, and hyposignal on T2-weighted sequences⁽⁵⁾ due to striking chemical shift artifact (Figure 4).

Figura 4.

Paciente do sexo masculino, 70 anos. RM coronal T1 (A) mostra lesão sólida com hipersinal em T1, localizada no assoalho do terceiro ventrículo, sem realce no pós-contraste (B). Em T2 axial (C) e coronal (D) a lesão apresenta hipossinal. As características de imagem são compatíveis com lipoma

Cavernoma

Also named cavernous malformation or cavernous angioma, it is a congenital or acquired vascular abnormality that occurs in 0.5% of the general population. More rarely they may be intraventricularly located. Classically, cavernomas are found on T2-weighted images as popcorn ball-like lesions with a hyposignal halo due to hemosiderin deposition. Subacute hemorrhage and blood degradation products produce a hypersignal halo on T1-weightes sequences, a finding that helps in the differentiation from hemorrhagic tumors and other intracranial hemorrhages (Figure 5). At CT, such malformations are seen as hyperdense, well delimited lesions, with calcifications in 40%-60% of the cases, with no contrast uptake⁽⁵⁾.

Figura 5.

Paciente do sexo masculino, 60 anos. RM axial T1 (A) apresenta lesão sólida, heterogênea, com áreas focais globuliformes de hipersinal, localizada no terceiro ventrículo. Em T2 (B) observa- se halo de hipossinal em torno da lesão, que também é demonstrado nas imagens em DP e FLAIR (C,D). Não foi realizado estudo anatomopatológico, porém a lesão é típica de cavernoma.

Neurocysticercosis

Intraventricular neurocysticercosis corresponds to 0.7- 33% of all cases, with a predilection for the fourth ventricle (50%), followed by the lateral ventricles (35%), third ventricle (10%) and aqueduct (5%). It generally causes obstructive hydrocephalus because of ventriculitis caused by ependymal inflammatory response or adhesions⁽⁶⁾.

Neurocysticercosis is seen at CT as a cystic lesion that is initially isodense in relation to the cerebrospinal fluid, and therefore are not clearly visualized. It may be associated with asymmetries in the ventricular system or ventricular dilatation. On the other hand, at MRI (Figure 6), the cysts are well defined, due to signal intensity subtly different from that of the cerebrospinal fluid at T1- and T2-weighted images. However, the cysts may appear isodense in relation to the cerebrospinal fluid and, in such cases, 3D CISS sequences are very useful in the characterization of the cysts and scolex demonstration⁽⁶⁾. Depending upon their dimensions, neurocysticercosis can exert considerable expansile effect on the compartments where the lesions are located.

Figura 6.

Paciente do sexo masculino, 67 anos. RM axial T1 (A) mostra lesões císticas com isossinal em relação ao liquor, com paredes isointensas em relação ao córtex cerebral, sem impregnação pelo contraste (B,C), localizadas nos cornos posteriores e no terceiro ventrículo. RM axial FLAIR (D) identifica melhor as lesões. Nota-se derivação ventricular. Análise sorológica do liquor mostrou- se reagente para anticisticerco, comprovando o diagnóstico de neurocisticercose.

Histoplasmosis

Disseminated histoplasmosis refers to multiple organs infection by the Histoplasma capsulatum fungus. The most common sites of involvement are the skin, respiratory and intestinal tracts. Central nervous system involvement is a rare complication that generally manifests as meningitis, typically occurring in immunosuppressed patients and in extreme age groups⁽⁷⁾.

Imaging findings (Figure 7) are nonspecific and the diagnostic hypothesis of histoplasmosis should be raised for patients with signs of meningitis or cerebritis at MRI studies⁽⁷⁾. Also, single or multiple granulomas may be found, usually isointense on T1-weighted and hypointense on T2weighted sequences, with homogeneous enhancement after intravenous contrast medium injection. Granulomas, as in the present case, may be located inside the ventricular system.

Figura 7.

Paciente do sexo masculino, 54 anos. RM coronal (A) e sagital T1 (B) mostram lesões nodulares sólidas, homogêneas, com isossinal em relação ao parênquima cerebral, localizadas no forame de Monro direito, com intenso realce pelo contraste (C,D). Nas sequências FLAIR fica mais destacada lesão com características semelhantes localizada no corno anterior do ventrículo lateral direito (setas em E,F). A necropsia revelou que as lesões se tratavam de granulomas de histoplasmose.

CONCLUSION

Intraventricular mass lesions have a wide variety of presentations at imaging studies, which may be a consequence of the different types of tissues found in the central nervous system, involved in the development of such lesions. Therefore, the study of the skull, particularly by MRI, plays a relevant role in the attempt to define differential diagnoses based on their location, signal characteristics on the different sequences, as well as in the detection of hemorrhage elements and calcifications. In the present study, the authors have aimed at reviewing the main intraventricular lesions approaching from the most common ones to those more rarely found (particularly those of inflammatory/infectious etiology), which can, however, be included in the differential diagnosis.