Orbital cavernous hemangiomas: ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.

Cavernous hemangioma is the most common intraorbital lesion in adults. The aim of our study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) characteristics of cavernous hemangioma and their role in the differential diagnosis of orbital tumors. Eight patients with orbital cavernous hemangiomas, five women and three men with a mean age of 48 years were examined in a period of six years. All patients underwent MRI examination and four patients were also evaluated by US. In all cases MRI depicted a well-defined intraconal tumor. The lesions were homogeneous, isointense to muscle on T1-weighted sequence and hyperintense to muscle on T2-weighted sequence in six patients. In one patient the mass was isointense on T1WI with heterogeneous signal intensity on T2WI and in one patient the lesion had heterogeneous signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted sequences. After intravenous contrast medium administration, the tumors showed initial inhomogeneous enhancement with progressive accumulation of contrast material on delayed images in seven patients and initial homogeneous enhancement in one patient. On ultrasonography, the orbital masses appeared slightly hyperechoic, heterogeneous with small areas of slow blood flow. The analysis of imaging characteristics of a well-defined intraconal lesion in an adult patient with painless progressive proptosis can be highly suggestive of the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma.

Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonographic evaluation of retinal detachment in orbital uveal melanomas.

We assess the role of ultrasonography (US) in the evaluation of retinal detachment in patients with uveal melanomas, in correlation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Twenty-six patients (13♂ and 13♀) with uveal melanomas underwent MRI and US examination. The signal intensity of the tumors and retinal detachments were depicted using MRI. The position of retinal detachment in correlation with the position of intraocular tumor was also evaluated performing ultrasound examination. MRI and US identified uveal melanoma in all 26 patients. In 11 of the 26 patients (42.3%) uveal melanoma was accompanied by retinal detachment. MRI demonstrated retinal detachment in nine patients. US disclosed retinal detachment in two more cases. US has an important role in the depiction of uveal melanomas and associated retinal detachment. It also appears to be more sensitive than MRI in detecting retinal detachment in patients with orbital uveal melanomas.

Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome: the role of MRI and review of the literature.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with congenital growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has revealed several morphological abnormalities of the hypothalamo-pituitary region which include hypoplasia of the anterior pituitary lobe, the absence or marked thinning of the pituitary stalk and ectopia of the posterior pituitary lobe (EPP). This triad of abnormalities is called pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS). Our study reports the imaging findings of 23 patients with idiopathic GHD and short stature who were examined by MRI. The majority of the patients had abnormal MR studies with findings indicating the presence of the pituitary stalk syndrome. The high correlation between the clinical profile and the MR findings in cases of pituitary dysfunction (most often GHD), defines the significant role of MRI as additional tool for the diagnosis of pituitary hormone deficiency.

Imaging findings of cavernous sinus hemangiomas. A report of two cases.

Extra-axial cavernous sinus hemangiomas are rare and account for less than 1% of parasellar tumors. These lesions have characteristic radiological features but the differential diagnosis from parasellar meningiomas and schwannomas can be difficult. Preoperative diagnosis is important due to the risk of severe intraoperative bleeding and the complex neurovascular structures of the cavernous sinus. We describe two cases of cavernous sinus hemangiomas and review the imaging findings of these lesions.