Comparative study of intracranial hemangiopericytomas and meningiomas on MRI

Objective: To study the MRI findings in a series of intracranial hemangiopericytomas, and to compare these findings with those of intracranial meningiomas. Methods: The MRI appearances and clinical features in 27 cases of intracranial hemangiopericytomas and 236 cases of intracranial meningiomas were retrospectively reviewed. All cases were proved by operation and pathology. The data were evaluated by using χ2 test, rank sum test, and Logistic Regression. Results: Sex (χ2 = 6.981) , shape of tumor (χ2 = 39.949), signal voids of vessel in tumor (χ2 = 12.366), necrosis or cystic degeneration in tumor (χ2=37.432), the type of dural attachment ( broad-based or narrow-based ) (χ2=16.956), T1WI signal intensity (χ2=14.880), T2WI signal intensity (χ2=37.068), enhanced degree of tumor (χ2=10.081), homogeneous degree of tumor after contrast enhancement (χ2=17.014 ), and duration time were significant different (P < 0.01) between hemangiopericytoma group and meningioma group. In addition, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two groups with 'dural tail' sign (χ2=5.655), duration time, and age of the first presentation (t =2.502). In Logistic regression analysis, shape of tumor showed significant difference (P < 0.01) between the two groups. T2WI signal intensity and 'dural tail' sign also showed significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two groups in Logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Our data indicated that presence of the multilobulated tumor, iso- and hyperintensity on T2WI, and lack for 'dural tail' sign were the most important characteristics for differentiating intracranial hemangiopericytoma from meningioma. It is helpful to get a correct diagnosis with other MRI and clinical features