Craniospinal Neurenteric Cysts: Various MR Imaging Features

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Craniospinal neurenteric (NE) cysts are rare developmental non-neoplastic cysts of the central nervous system with diverse MR imaging findings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate various MR imaging findings of intracranial and intraspinal NE cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the MR imaging findings of six NE cysts that were confirmed by pathology. We evaluated anatomic location, signal intensity, size and enhancement pattern of NE cysts. RESULTS: Two intracranial lesions were located extra-axially in the cerebellopontine angle and quadrigeminal cisterns. Three spinal lesions were intraduralextramedullary cysts, located ventral to the spinal cord, but one thoracic lesion was an intramedullary cyst. The signal intensity of the cysts was hyperintense on T1-weighted images as compared with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for two intracranial lesions and one cervical lesion. In addition, all intracranial lesions showed diffusion restriction. For the remaining three spinal lesions, the signal intensity was nearly the same as the signal intensity of the CSF as seen on both T1- and T2-weighted images. On contrast-enhanced studies, two intracranial cysts showed a small nodular enhancement and one thoracic spinal lesion showed rim enhancement. CONCLUSION: NE cysts have various locations, signal intensities, and possible focal nodular or rim enhancement. Therefore, NE cysts can be included in the differential diagnosis of various craniospinal cystic or tumorous cystic lesions.