Arachnoid Granulations Mimicking Multiple Osteolytic Bone Lesions in the Occipital Bone

ABSTRACT

We report a rare case of arachnoid granulations mimicking multiple osteolytic bone lesions. A 66-year-old woman was admitted to a local clinic for a regular checkup. Upon admission, brain CT showed multiple osteolytic lesions in the occipital bone. These needed to be differentiated from multiple osteolytic bone tumor. Subsequent brain MRI revealed that the osteolytic lesions were isointense to cerebrospinal fluid, hyperintense on T2-weighted image, hypointense on T1-weighted image, and with subtle capsules around the osteolytic lesions that were visible after gadolinium injection. A bone scan revealed no radiotracer uptake. The lesions were in both the transverse sinuses and the torcular herophili. With typical radiological appearances of the lesions, the osteolytic lesions were diagnosed as multiple arachnoid granulations. No further treatment was planned. A 1-year follow-up brain CT scan revealed no change. We should consider the possibility of arachnoid granulations when multiple osteolytic lesions are observed in the occipital bone.