| Popis: |
Background: Neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS) are, apart from leukemia, the most frequent malignant disorders in the childhood. Among the brain tumors, those of poorly differentiated cells - give metastatic lesions to the CNS. The aim of the paper was to evaluate the features of CT and MR images detecting dissemination of the primary brain tumors. Material/Methods: From 1993 to 2005 in the Department of Radiology of the Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, the disseminations to CNS were observed in 35 children who were previously operated for primary brain tumors. CT and MR examinations of the brain were performed in all patients (22 males and 13 females; age: 5 mo - 18 y) and MR imaging of the spinal cord was done in 18 children. Results: Multiple metastases to the cerebral structures were detected more often (in 23 patients - 66%) as compared to single lesions. The most frequent disseminations were observed in patients with diagnosis of medulloblastoma - 13 children, PNET - 4 and pineoblastoma - 3 patients. Twelve children had single metastatic tumors (out of the primary neoplasm location): in the course of medulloblastoma - 6, and PNET - 2 patients. Eighteen MR examinations of the spinal canal showed disseminations of the brain tumors in 9 children; concomitant metastatic nodules in the brain were detected in 4 patients. Conclusions: CT and MR imaging of the CNS enables evaluating the dissemination of primary brain tumors in children. Any asymptomatic progression of the primary neoplastic disease may be detected by means of control diagnostic imaging, which reveals the tumor spread. Especially in patients with medulloblastoma and pineoblastoma, the spine MR imaging with gadolinium is mandatory. |
