CT and MRI Diagnosis of Intracranial Cavernous Hemangioma

Objective To investigate the value of CT and MRI in the diagnosis of intracranial cavernous hemangioma.Materials and Methods 22 cases of intracranial cavernous hemangioma confirmed with pathology were analyzed. 21 cases were intraaxial lesions, 1 case were dural cavernous hemangiomas in middle fossa. 10 cases were underwent with CT scan, 16 cases with MRI examination,13 cases with MRA examination.Results The lesion of intracerebral cavernous hemangioma could be located in every region of the brain, which single lesion was more often and most lesions had no or slightly edema without space-occupying effect. Slight hyperdensity mass were appeared in plain CT scan, and calcification were seen in 72.7% of the mass,the most of them were shown without enhancement. The characteristic MRI features were multiberry-like inhomogenous intensity with flocculent hypointensity ring. No enhencement could be seen. There were normal appearance in MRA. Extraaxial cavernous hemangioma were located in the middle fossa and parasellar, which had dumb-bell shape, and homogenous slight hypointensity on T 1WI and hyperintensity on T 2WI images with markedly enhancement.Conclusion The MRI findings of intracerebral cavernous hemangioma are specific, combined with CT and MRA could make a correct diagnosis. Misdiagnosis of dural cavernous hemangiomas is often to be done,so we should take the possible diagnosis of dural cavernous hemangiomas into account when the CT and MR image features of tumors are similar to meningioma which located in the middle fossa.