MRI of craniopharyngiomas

Magnetic resonance images of 7 patients with surgically confirmed craniopharyngiomas were evaluated and compared with CT scans. Spin echo (SE) images (SE 600 ∼ 1000/40 and SE 1800 ∼ 2500/120) and inversion recovery (IR) images were obtained using a 0.5 T superconductive MR scanner. All cases except one showed hyperintensity on T2-weighted SE images and hypointensity on IR images. Remaining one case had hyperintensity both on T2-weighted SE and IR images. Calcifications were difficult to be detected in the MR images. Coronal and sagittal IR images demonstrated good anatomical relation between the tumor and adjacent brain tissues such as optic chiasm. SE images with a short echo time were useful in delineating tumor contour. (author)