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CT and MR imaging in atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors of the central nervous system

  • Paediatric Neuroradiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Introduction

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) are rare aggressive neoplasms of the CNS affecting predominantly very young children.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the imaging findings of 9 CT and 32 MR examinations of the brain and spine of 33 children.

Results

Of the 33 tumors, 11 were located in the infratentorial compartment, 16 in the supratentorial compartment, 5 in both cranial compartments, and 1 in the lower thoracic spinal cord. The mean age of the children with infratentorial or infra- and supratentorial tumors was significantly lower than the mean age of the children with purely supratentorial tumors. Heterogeneity on imaging, large size and high tumor stages are striking features reflecting the aggressive nature of this histopathological entity. Although not present in the majority of children, a distinct and unusual pattern of a wavy band-like enhancement surrounding a central hypointensity was present in 12 of 32 children (38%) in whom contrast medium was used.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge this is the largest number of imaging examinations of ATRTs so far reported. A rather unusual pattern of contrast enhancement may be typical of ATRTs.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reference Centre for Neuroradiology of the German Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (GPOH), Department of Neuroradiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Monika Warmuth-Metz & Brigitte Bison

  2. Reference Centre for Radiooncology of the German Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (GPOH), Department of Radiooncology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Elke Dannemann-Stern & Rolf Kortmann

  3. Study Centre of the HIT-Studies of the German Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (GPOH), Department of Pediatrics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Stefan Rutkowski

  4. German Reference Centre for Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Torsten Pietsch

  5. Abteilung für Neuroradiologie der Universität Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str.11, 97080, Würzburg, Germany

    Monika Warmuth-Metz

Authors
  1. Monika Warmuth-Metz
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  2. Brigitte Bison
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  3. Elke Dannemann-Stern
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  4. Rolf Kortmann
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  5. Stefan Rutkowski
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  6. Torsten Pietsch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monika Warmuth-Metz.

Additional information

This work was funded by the German Children’s Cancer Foundation (Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung).

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Warmuth-Metz, M., Bison, B., Dannemann-Stern, E. et al. CT and MR imaging in atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors of the central nervous system. Neuroradiology 50, 447–452 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-008-0369-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-008-0369-7

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