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Neuroradiology
Published in: Neuroradiology 9/2012

01-09-2012 | Paediatric Neuroradiology

Spontaneous modifications of contrast enhancement in childhood non-cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas

Authors: Simona Gaudino, Francesca Romana Quaglio, Chiara Schiarelli, Matia Martucci, Tommaso Tartaglione, Maria Rosaria Gualano, Giuseppe Maria Di Lella, Cesare Colosimo

Published in: Neuroradiology | Issue 9/2012

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Abstract

Introduction

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is classified by the World Health Organization as a grade I tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard in the diagnosis and follow-up of this neoplasm, and assessment of contrast enhancement (CE) pattern is essential. The purpose of this study was to investigate CE changes of non-cerebellar PA (n-C PA) stable in size with serial MRI.

Methods

Nine hundred and twelve MRI exams of 140 children with histologically proven PA were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were chosen for study inclusion if they were off therapy, without neurofibromatosis type 1, and without dimensional changes of tumor/residual tumor. In patients with CE changes, tumor size and CE size were calculated with a cross product. Descriptive statistics were calculated for continuous variables; effects of possible factors influencing changes of contrast-enhanced areas were tested.

Results

Of 39 n-C PA satisfying the inclusion criteria, 12 showed CE changes in terms of appearance/increase or disappearance/decrease of CE areas. Three of these 12 PA were infratentorial and nine supratentorial. There were no significant correlations between age, gender, tumor localization, tumor size, and modification of CE areas.

Conclusion

In our experience, n-C PA may show variable CE over time in the absence of tumor/residual tumor dimension change. We recommend that CE fluctuations alone cannot be considered an indicator of tumor progression/regression.
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Metadata
Title
Spontaneous modifications of contrast enhancement in childhood non-cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas
Authors
Simona Gaudino
Francesca Romana Quaglio
Chiara Schiarelli
Matia Martucci
Tommaso Tartaglione
Maria Rosaria Gualano
Giuseppe Maria Di Lella
Cesare Colosimo
Publication date
01-09-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Neuroradiology / Issue 9/2012
Print ISSN: 0028-3940
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-012-1010-3

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