Value of MRI and CTA in preoperative assessment of tumors in foramen magnum region / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the clinical value of MRI and CTA in the preoperative assessment of tumors in the foramen magnum region. Methods: Clinical and imaging data of 32 patients with foramen magnum region tumors confirmed by surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor location, extent and the relationship of the tumor and surrounding important structures were assessed and compared with surgical findings. Results: Among 32 patients with foramen magnum region tumors, there were 29 cases of benign tumors, including 4 cases of angioblastomas, 3 cases of ependymoma, 2 cases of hairy cell astrocytoma, 13 cases of meningioma, 5 cases of schwannoma, 1 case of lipoma and 1 case of epidermoid cyst; there were 3 cases of malignant tumor, including 1 case of chondromatoid chordoma, 1 case of melanoma and 1 case of metastasis. Nine tumors located in intramedullary, 23 in extramedullary, including ventral in 5 cases, ventrolateral in 7 cases, dorsal in 11 cases. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI was 93.75% (30/32), and the evaluation of tumor scope was consistent with that of surgery. The coincidence rate of CTA in evaluation on supplying artery with intraoperative findings was 100%. Conclusion: MRI and CTA play an important role in evaluating the location and extension of tumors in the foramen magnum region, as well as the relationship with adjacent tissue and vessels, which is useful for determining the surgical approach, the extent of tumor resection and management of the surrounding vessels in clinical routine.