Neuroimaging of pediatric posterior fossa tumors including review of the literature

Andrea Poretti; Avner Meoded; Thierry A G M Huisman

doi:10.1002/jmri.22722

Neuroimaging of pediatric posterior fossa tumors including review of the literature

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2012 Jan;35(1):32-47. doi: 10.1002/jmri.22722. Epub 2011 Oct 11.

Authors

Andrea Poretti¹, Avner Meoded, Thierry A G M Huisman

Affiliation

¹ Division of Pediatric Radiology, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

PMID: 21989968
DOI: 10.1002/jmri.22722

Abstract

Conventional, anatomical MRI is an essential tool for diagnosis and evaluation of location, quality, and extent of posterior fossa tumors, but offers limited information regarding tumor grade and type. Advanced MRI techniques such as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may improve the specific diagnosis of brain tumors in the posterior fossa in children. In this review the conventional neuroimaging findings, as well as the DWI, and DTI characteristics of common pediatric posterior fossa tumors are discussed and summarized.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Astrocytoma / diagnosis
Astrocytoma / pathology
Brain Stem / pathology
Cranial Fossa, Posterior / pathology*
Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods
Ependymoma / diagnosis
Ependymoma / pathology
Glioma / diagnosis
Glioma / pathology
Humans
Infratentorial Neoplasms / diagnosis
Infratentorial Neoplasms / pathology*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Medulla Oblongata / pathology
Medulloblastoma / diagnosis
Medulloblastoma / pathology
Skull Base Neoplasms / diagnosis
Skull Base Neoplasms / pathology*