PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - M. Azuma AU - Z.A. Khant AU - M. Kitajima AU - H. Uetani AU - T. Watanabe AU - K. Yokogami AU - H. Takeshima AU - T. Hirai TI - Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced 3D-FLAIR MR Imaging for Differentiating Rathke Cleft Cyst from Cystic Craniopharyngioma AID - 10.3174/ajnr.A6359 DP - 2020 Jan 01 TA - American Journal of Neuroradiology PG - 106--110 VI - 41 IP - 1 4099 - http://www.ajnr.org/content/41/1/106.short 4100 - http://www.ajnr.org/content/41/1/106.full SO - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2020 Jan 01; 41 AB - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because it can be difficult to discriminate between a Rathke cleft cyst and cystic craniopharyngioma by conventional MR imaging alone, we investigated whether contrast-enhanced 3D T2-FLAIR MR imaging at 3T helps to distinguish a Rathke cleft cyst from a cystic craniopharyngioma.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted and 3D T2-FLAIR images of 17 patients with pathologically confirmed Rathke cleft cyst (n = 10) or cystic craniopharyngioma (n = 7). All underwent 3T MR imaging studies before surgery. Two neuroradiologists independently recorded the enhancement grade of the lesion wall as grade 2 (most of the wall enhanced), grade 1 (some of the wall enhanced), and grade 0 (none of the wall enhanced). One neuroradiologist performed a blinded reading study of conventional MR images with/without 3D T2-FLAIR images. Interobserver agreement was determined by calculating the κ coefficient. Statistical analyses, including receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed.RESULTS: Interobserver agreement for postcontrast T1WI and 3D T2-FLAIR images was excellent (κ = 0.824 and κ = 0.867, respectively). Although the difference in the mean enhancement grade of Rathke cleft cysts and cystic craniopharyngiomas was not significant on postcontrast T1WIs, it was significant on postcontrast 3D T2-FLAIR images (P = .0011). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the conventional MR alone and conventional MR with 3D T2-FLAIR readings was 0.879 and 1.0, respectively, though there was no significant difference in the area under the curve between the 2 readings.CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced 3D T2-FLAIR imaging at 3T helps to distinguish a Rathke cleft cyst from cystic craniopharyngioma.CCPcystic craniopharyngiomaCEcontrast-enhancedRCCRathke cleft cyst