Extraaxial Neurofibromas Versus Neurilemmomas: Discrimination with MRI

• DOI: 10.2214/ajr.183.3.1830629
• Publication Date: 2013-02-28T07:32:41Z
• Authors: Won-Hee Jee; Soon-Nam Oh; Thomas McCauley; Kyung-Nam Ryu; Jin-Suck Suh; Jeong-Hoon Lee; Jung-Mi Park; Kyung-Ah Chun; Mi-Sook Sung; Kijun Kim; Yeon-Soo Lee; Yong-Koo Kang; In-Young Ok; Jung-Man Kim
• Keywords: Neurilemoma

The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether MRI can discriminate between extraaxial neurofibromas and neurilemmomas.MR images 52 patients with a pathologically proven neurofibroma or neurilemmoma were retrospectively reviewed by observers who unaware the surgical results, regarding presence absence individual imaging criteria. findings in 12 localized 40 compared using chi-square test Fisher's exact test.MRI suggestive (p < 0.05) target sign on T2-weighted (58% vs 15% neurilemmomas), central enhancement (75% 8%), combination both (63% 3%). fascicular appearance (25% 63%), thin hyperintense rim (8% 58%), 48%), diffuse (13% 67%). No significant difference seen neurilemmomas for centrally entering exiting nerve (42% 23% peripherally 77%), cystic area (38% 64%), low-signal margin (100% 100%), peripheral 26%), contrast-enhanced (11% 31%).MRI shows features helpful differentiating from neurilemmomas; however, no single finding allows definitive differentiation.