The advantage and value of MRI in the diagnosis of tumors located in posterior cranial fossa

Objective: To study the advantage and value of MRI in the diagnosis of tumors located in posterior cranial fossa. Methods: In total 53 cases with tumors located in posterior cranial fossa were enrolled, 45 cases were proven by operation, and pathology, 8 cases were proven by clinical follow up. Different sections and sequence, based on the characteristic of lesions, were applied in the examination. The MRI findings were analyzed. Results: Among the 53 cases with tumors located in posterior cranial fossa, the location of the lesions included 15 cases in cerebellopontine angle cisterns, 9 cases in brain stem, 21 cases in cerebellum, and 8 cases within the 4th ventricle. The sensitivity and accurate location rate of MRI was 100%. And the general diagnostic accuracy was 93.3%. Conclusion: MRI imaging of the tumors located in posterior cranial fossa avoids the artifacts of skull. Integrated multiple sections and sequences provides fairly high rate of the sensitivity and accurate location. There are distinct advantage and value of MRI in the diagnosis of tumors located in posterior cranial fossa. (authors)