ABSTRACT
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to define the very first score enabling discrimination between benign and malignant solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTPs), on the basis of reliable preoperative CT features. Methods: Between December 2004 and November 2012, 56 patients underwent complete resection for SFTP at six institutes. CT scans were reviewed retrospectively, and a diagnostic scoring system for predicting malignant SFTP preoperatively was designed. Results: Univariate analysis revealed seven significant predictors of malignant SFTP: tumor size ≥ 10 cm (p=0.002), tumor heterogeneity spontaneously (p=0.019) or after contrast medium injection (p=0.029), existence of intratumoral fluid density areas (p=0.011), a pleural effusion (p=0.01), measurable (diameter >1 mm) intratumoral vessels (p=0.019), a hypervascular character (visible intratumoral vessels and/or intense enhancement) (p=0.001). A scoring system based on these seven CT features, each assigned 1 point, and with a cut-off of 4 points, could predict malignant SFTP with a specificity of 85% and a sensitivity of 48%. Conclusion: Our scoring system using seven CT features (tumor size ≥ 10 cm, tumor heterogeneity with or without contrast injection, intratumoral fluid density areas, pleural effusion, measurable intratumoral vessels, and a hypervascular character of the tumor) may be helpful for predicting histological malignancy of solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura.
ABSTRACT
Aims: To report a rare clinical case of gliomatosis cerebri, which presented with non-specific clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings. We provide images and stress the importance of differential diagnosis based on imaging, especially magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. Case Presentation: A 73-year-old woman developed a right hemiplegia suggestive of ischemic stroke. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) highlighted a diffuse tumor-related infiltration involving several lobes without contrast enhancement, corresponding to the specific description and definition of gliomatosis cerebri type 1. With the aid of MR spectroscopy, we correctly diagnosed the disease preoperatively, which was finally confirmed pathologically by stereotactic biopsy. During radiological follow-up, a contrast enhancement occurred on cerebral MRI, suggestive of progression to a gliomatosis cerebri type 2. Given a poor performance status, this elderly patient received palliative treatment. Discussion: Gliomatosis cerebri is a relatively rare but well-known entity, which affects mostly middle aged patients. It often presents with confounding clinical and imaging features, thus additional examinations such as MR spectroscopy are almost always necessary before reaching the correct diagnosis before biopsy. Conclusion: Contrast enhancement on cerebral MRI, which is usually absent, is found in case of transformation from type 1 gliomatosis cerebri to type 2. Some features on MR spectroscopy are helpful for gliomatosis cerebri diagnosis: N-acetylaspartate levels are diminished, levels of myoinositol are significantly elevated, but Cho/Cr ratio may be normal.