• J K Hald, O P Eldevik, J A Brunberg, and W F Chandler.
• Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor.
• Acta Radiol. 1994 Nov 1;35(6):520-5.

AbstractTo evaluate the efficacy of i.v. contrast medium administration in MR imaging at 1.5 T in patients with craniopharyngiomas, MR studies of 10 men and 6 women with pathologically proven craniopharyngiomas were made. The MR images were obtained as 3- to 5-mm-thick coronal (n = 13) or axial (n = 3) Tl-weighted images (T1WI) prior to and following i.v. Gd-DTPA administration. Proton density- (PD) and T2-weighted images (T2WI) were also obtained. Conspicuity of tumor margins, cystic versus solid components, size, location and effect upon adjacent structures were separately characterized in all imaging sequences. In 6 patients contrast medium-enhanced T1WI. PD and T2WI demonstrated cystic tumor components not seen on unenhanced T1WI. There were significant differences (p < 0.004) on 2-tailed Student's t-test comparing tumor conspicuity on contrast medium-enhanced T1WI with unenhanced T1WI, PD and T2WI. Optimal tumor delineation on MR imaging of patients with craniopharyngiomas justifies the use of i.v. contrast medium.

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