MR of pediatric intracranial meningiomas

PURPOSE: To assess MR and pathologic characteristics of childhood intracranial meningiomas, comparing the radiographic findings with those observed in adult intracranial meningiomas. METHODS: Clinical records, MR and CT scans, and histology of eight children with intracranial meningiomas presenting for a period of 7.5 years were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Boys equaled girls but predominated from ages 4 to 11 years. The ages ranged from 4 to 18 years. Two patients had radiation-induced meningiomas. Two children had multiple lesions; neither had neurofibromatosis. All solitary lesions were supratentorial. Other characteristics included: dural-based attachment (n = 6); large size (>5 cm) (n = 4); cystic components (n = 3); and intraventricular location (n = 1). Histologic subtypes were: meningothelial (n = 4); transitional (n = 3); and fibroblastic (n = 1). Preoperative diagnoses of meningiomas were made in six cases based on overall imaging characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of childhood intracranial meningiomas does not differ from that of adults radiographically, with the exception of larger tumor sizes.