Magnetic resonance in the dilation of terminal ventricle

Describe de Magnetic Resonance (MR) findings in four cases of terminal ventricle dilation. We have studied four patients, all of them women, whose mean age range was 39 years. The studies were performed with a 1 Tesla magnet and the sequences used were sagittal and axial T1 and T2 weighted and sagittal and axial T1 weighted after the administration of gadolinium. the follow-up was clinical and by MRI. The four patients studied came due to low back pain. The MRI images demonstrated the presence of a cystic lesion located in the medullary cone, with a well defined contour and one that presented no type of enhancement in the study performed with gadolinium. In three cases, we had a MRI control at two years and the images had not varied. We have no control for the fourth cases of more recent diagnosis. The terminal ventricle is an ependymoma cavity located in the medullary cone. It can present a dilation and it is necessary to know its existence, typical location and signal characteristics to be able to diagnose and differentiate it from cystic tumors in this localization, that can present a similar appearance in the MRI. (Author) 7 refs