MRI and clinical diagnosis of central neurocytoma

Objective to investigate the MRI features of the central neurocytoma and its clinical characteristics, in order to improve the understanding of the disease. Methods MR imaging of 6 patients with central neurocytoma confirmed surgically and pathologically were retrospectively reviewed. Conventional plain and enhance MR scan were performed in all patients. Results The tumors in 5 cases located in the lateral ventricle monro, 1 case was located in the left lateral ventricle triangle, including 2 males and 4 females, aged from 16 to 38 years old, with an average age of 25. Tumors were connected to the septum pellucidum with wide base, a kind of round or irregular mass. Five cases were presented as cystic or solid mixed lesions, tumor of 1 case was solid, associated with different degree of hydrocephalus, 1 case of lesion invasion, adjacent brain parenchyma. There were 1 cases of invasion of adjacent brain parenchyma, and the growth of the tumor in 1 cases in the third ventricle. Cystic changes could be seen in larger lesions, but in smaller lesions, as well as there were multiple stripe-like structures in the periphery, which adhered to the ventricle walls, septum pellucidum and callus. Circuity blood vessels were found in partial lesions. All lesions were not seen bleeding, presented as equal or isointensity signal on T₁WI, hyperintensity or equal signal on T₂WI and DWI, and the internal signal of some tumors was inhomogeneous and honeycomb, mild to marked enhancement. Pathology showed, CNC in tumor tissue cell morphplpgy, centered round nucleus, transparent cytoplasm, was made up of characteristic fiber matrix cell free belt and "fake chrysanthemum group "signs. Immunohistochemical study suggests the 6 cases of synaptic element (Syn) are positive results. Conclusion Intraventricular CNC had characteristics of "peripheral cyst-spicules sign"and "snake-like flow void sign", combined with DWI signal characteristics can help improving central nervous cell tumor of the preoperative diagnostic accuracy and clinical treatment.