Computed tomography and magnetic resonance appearance of sporadic meningioangiomatosis correlated with pathological findings

Cerebrospinal fluid shunt malfunctions: A reflective review

PURPOSE

Pediatric hydrocephalus is a common and challenging condition. To date, the ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is still the main lifesaving treatment option. Nonetheless, it remains imperfect and is associated with multiple short- and long-term complications. This paper is a reflective review of the current state of the VPS, our knowledge gaps, and the future state of shunts in neurosurgical practice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The authors' reflections are based on a review of shunts and shunt-related literature.

CONCLUSION

Overall, there is still an urgent need for the neurosurgical community to actively improve current strategies for shunt failures and shunt-related morbidity. The authors emphasize the role of collaborative efforts amongst like-minded clinicians to establish pragmatic approaches to avoid shunt complications.

Meningioangiomatosis with Skull Erosion

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare, poorly studied brain hamartomatous lesion, the etiology of which is not fully elucidated. It typically involves the leptomeninges, extending to the underlying cortex, characterized by small vessel proliferation, perivascular cuffing, and scattered calcifications. Given its close proximity to, or direct involvement of, the cerebral cortex, MA lesions typically manifest in younger patients as recurrent episodes of refractory seizures, comprising approximately 0.6% of operated-on intractable epileptic lesions. Due to the absence of characteristic radiological features, MA lesions constitute a significant radiological challenge, making them easy to miss or misinterpret. Although MA lesions are rarely reported with still-unknown etiology, it is prudent to be aware of these lesions for prompt diagnosis and management to avoid morbidity and mortality associated with delayed diagnosis and treatment. We present a case of a young patient with a first-time seizure caused by a right parieto-occipital MA lesion that was successfully excised via an awake craniotomy, achieving 100% seizure control.

Meningioangiomatosis Combined with Calcifying Pseudoneoplasms of Neuraxis

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare hamartomatous or meningovascular lesion involving the central nervous system, and is sometimes associated with intracranial meningiomas. Calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON) are rare, slow-growing benign tumor-like lesions that can occur anywhere along the neuraxis. Here, we report a rare case of MA combined with CAPNON. A 31-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a high-density mass in the left frontal lobe, detected by computed tomography (CT) during a physical examination. She had a 3-year history of obsessive-compulsive disorder. We describe the imaging, histopathological, and molecular characteristics of the patient. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing MA combined with CAPNON. We reviewed the literature on MA and CAPNON over the last decade and summarized the points for differential diagnosis and treatment. It is difficult to preoperatively distinguish between MA and CAPNON. However, this coexisting condition should be considered when intra-axial calcification lesions are observed on radiological imaging. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are likely to benefit this patient group.

Pure and non-pure meningioangiomatosis of 36 Chinese patients: an analysis of clinical presentation, diagnosis, histopathology and prognosis

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a disease that is extremely rarely reported. Sporadic MA is occasionally combined with meningioma or other lesions (identified as non-pure MA). This retrospective study investigated the difference between pure MA and non-pure MA by exploring clinical manifestations, histopathology characteristics, and outcomes of MA after surgery. We reviewed the medical records of 36 histopathologically confirmed MA patients (18 pure MA and 18 non-pure MA) who received surgery at our institution between 2012 and 2021. We compared differences in demographic, clinical, imaging, pathological features, and surgical outcomes between pure MA and non-pure MA through descriptive statistics. Compared to non-pure MA, pure MA presented with a more prominent male predilection (5:1 vs. 1.57:1, P = 0.264), a higher seizure incidence (83.3% vs 50.0%, P = 0.038), a more seizure type of GTCS (14/15 vs 5/9, P = 0.047), a less prominent enhancement on MRI (27.8% vs 88.9%, P < 0.001) and a preference of temporal and frontal lobe (100% vs 44.4%, P < 0.001). The differences in clinical characteristics between pure MA and non-pure MA demonstrate their disparate biological natures. Pure MA seems to be a non-neoplastic lesion, while non-pure MA is commonly combined with meningioma, which is a neoplastic lesion. A correct differential diagnosis can be achieved via a triad of the type of seizure, the location of lesion and the radiological presentation. MA is curable and the prognosis is excellent as most patients are free of seizure and recurrence after surgical treatment.

Meningioangiomatosis: Multimodal Analysis and Insights From a Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Meningioangiomatosis is a poorly studied, rare, benign, and epileptogenic brain lesion.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate that surgical resection and a short-time interval to surgery improves epileptic seizure control, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of meningioangiomatosis cases.

METHODS

Using PRISMA-IPD guidelines, the authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of histopathologically-proven meningioangiomatosis cases. Literature search in French and English languages (PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the Science Citation Index) including all studies (January 1981 to June 2020) dealing with histopathologically-proven meningioangiomatosis, without age restriction. We assessed clinical, imaging, histomolecular, management, and outcome findings of patients with meningioangiomatosis.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and seven cases of meningioangiomatosis from 78 studies were included. Most meningioangiomatosis was sporadic, preferentially concerned male patients, younger than 20 years old, and allowed a functionally independent status. Epileptic seizure was the main symptom, with 81.4% of patients having uncontrolled seizures at the time of surgery. Meningioangiomatosis mainly had frontal (32.3%) or temporal (30.7%) locations. Imaging presentation was heterogeneous, and the diagnosis was often missed preoperatively. The histopathologic pattern was similar whatever the clinical presentation, and immunohistochemistry had limited diagnostic value. On molecular analysis, allelic loss at 22q12 was more frequent in samples of meningioangiomatosis-associated meningioma (37.5%) than in isolated meningioangiomatosis (23.1%). Time interval from diagnosis to surgery (p = 0.011) and lack of surgical resection of the meningioangiomatosis (p = 0.009) were independent predictors of postoperative seizure control.

CONCLUSIONS

Owing to low scientific evidence, a multicentric prospective study should help refining the management of meningioangiomatosis.

Meningioangiomatosis: Clinical, Imaging, and Histopathologic Characteristics

Meningioangiomatosis is a rare benign lesion involving the central nervous system. Radiographic appearance can be highly variable which makes pre-operative diagnosis difficult. In this report, we describe meningioangiomatosis in a previously healthy 17-year-old woman who presented with seizures and continued headache and dizziness. This patient presented with a predominately calcified lesion on imaging and eventually underwent near total resection. Meningioangiomatosis is difficult to preoperatively identify, but is an important consideration as prognosis with surgical resection is typically good.

Sporadic Meningioangiomatosis Presenting as a Middle Cranial Fossa Arachnoid Cyst

BACKGROUND

Meningioangiomatosis is an extremely rare meningovascular disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by the proliferation of leptomeninges, cortical vessels, and perivascular spindled cells. Although it is a benign, neoplastic disorder that carries a good prognosis after surgical excision, initial diagnosis may be challenging as radiologic findings are often variable and nonspecific.

CASE DESCRIPTION

In this report, we describe an unusual presentation of meningioangiomatosis presenting as a symptomatic middle cranial fossa arachnoid cyst.

CONCLUSIONS

In view of the unexpected diagnosis and infrequency of this condition, the case is discussed in collaboration with current literature and management strategies.

B-cell central nervous system lymphoma developing in a patient with cerebral meningioangiomatosis

Meningioangiomatosis is a rare congenital hamartomatous malformation of the leptomeninges that can also involve the adjacent cerebral tissue, sometime arising in association with neurofibromatosis. Here we report the case of a 55-year-old man with neuroradiological evidence of meningioangiomatosis, known to be a well-defined malformative-dysplastic lesion, preceding the onset of central nervous system B-cell lymphoma. We describe for the first time this unusual association, highlighting how meningioangiomatosis could accompany different pathologies more frequently than thought.

Adult Brain Tumors and Pseudotumors: Interesting (Bizarre) Cases

Some brain tumors results are interesting due to their rarity at presentation and overwhelming imaging characteristics, posing a diagnostic challenge in the eyes of any experienced neuroradiologist. This article focuses on the most important features regarding epidemiology, location, clinical presentation, histopathology, and imaging findings of cases considered "bizarre." A review of the most recent literature dealing with these unusual tumors and pseudotumors is presented, highlighting key points related to the diagnosis, treatments, outcomes, and differential diagnosis.

Pediatric Meningeal Tumors of the Sylvian Fissure Region without Dural Attachment: A Series of Three Patients and Review of the Literature

Pediatric meningeal tumors are rare, but those in the region of the sylvian fissure without dural attachment are extremely rare, with only 24 previously reported cases in the world literature. In this series, we report two additional cases of sylvian fissure meningioma without dural attachment and one case of perisylvian meningioangiomatosis in the medial temporal lobe. All three patients presented with complex partial seizures, but the diagnosis was delayed in each case because the symptoms were misinterpreted to be behavioral rather than epileptic. The seizures were eventually confirmed with electroencephalogram, and subsequent imaging showed enhancing masses within the sylvian fissure region that were at least partially calcified in all three cases. Each patient underwent craniotomy. In the first case, gross total resection was achieved, and in the second case, a small residual portion of tumor was densely calcified and adherent to the middle cerebral artery branches. Both of these were World Health Organization (WHO) grade I meningiomas. The third patient underwent biopsy and limited resection of meningioangiomatosis. No dural attachments were noted in any of the tumors, but one of the meningiomas was intraparenchymal in location, surrounding the sylvian fissure in both the frontal and temporal lobes, which has been described in only a small number of these cases previously. The patients underwent pre- and postsurgical neuropsychiatric testing and did not experience any significant cognitive deficits. At 10-year follow-up, the patient who had gross total resection of the tumor has had no recurrence and is seizure-free without anticonvulsant medications. The incompletely resected intraparenchymal meningioma in the second patient recurred after 5 years, however, and at repeat surgery was found to have transformed to a WHO grade II tumor. Radiation therapy was delivered and the tumor has been stable for 2 years, but the patient continues to have occasional seizures despite medication. The patient with meningioangiomatosis has had no further growth and has excellent control of seizures but remains on medication. We review the clinical presentation of these rare tumors and discuss the treatment, outcomes, and possible relationship of meningiomas to meningioangiomatosis.

Sporadic meningioangiomatosis with and without meningioma: analysis of clinical differences and risk factors for poor seizure outcomes

BACKGROUND

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare cerebral lesion. Sporadic MA occasionally combines with meningioma (MA-M). The aim of the present study was to clarify whether MA-M and pure MA have clinical differences and to determine risk factors for unsatisfactory seizure outcomes in sporadic MA.

METHODS

We reported 14 sporadic MA cases in our center and conducted a literature review. We compared the demographic, clinical, imaging, electrophysiological and pathological features and surgical outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors for poor seizure outcomes.

RESULTS

MA-M cases showed a more prominent male predilection (4.2 times vs. 1.6 times, p = 0.04), a shorter duration of symptoms (2.8 ± 0.8 years vs. 5.2 ± 0.6 years, p = 0.02), and a lower seizure incidence (53.6 % vs. 89.3 %, p < 0.001) as compared to pure MA. A gyriform alteration on imaging was exclusively associated with pure MA. The Ki-67 was higher in the meningioma component than in the MA component in MA-M (1.2 ± 0.3 % vs. 6.1 ± 1.1 %, p < 0.001). Lesions located in the temporal lobe predicted poor seizure outcomes (p = 0.02, OR = 4.4, 95 % confidence interval, 1.24-15.89).

CONCLUSION

Clinical differences may be caused by the different biological natures. MA-M seems to be a neoplastic lesion, while pure MA seems to be a non-neoplastic lesion. Long-term follow-up is required for MA-M. Because the coexistence of hippocampal sclerosis may explain the poor seizure outcomes of MA located in the temporal lobe, it is important to identify underlying hippocampal sclerosis and to perform complete resection.

Three cases of sporadic meningioangiomatosis with different imaging appearances: case report and review of the literature

Background

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare meningiovascular malformation or hamartomatous lesion in the central nervous system. Radiographic findings of MA may show a variety of characteristics according to different histological components. We present three cases of sporadic MA with different imaging appearances in an attempt to identify specific imaging characteristics.

Case presentation

In case 1, an irregular hyperdense solid mass was localized in the left middle cranial fossa, demonstrating low and equal signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI; TR/TE 2,048.9 ms/26.1 ms), high signal intensity with multiple flow void effect on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI; TR/TE 4,000 ms/106.4 ms), and significant and homogeneous enhancement on post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In case 2, the lesion in the right insular lobe showed a cystic-mural nodule pattern. The cystic content demonstrated similar density or signal intensity as cerebrospinal fluid, while the mural nodule demonstrated equal density or signal intensity on computed tomography (CT) and MRI. On post-contrast MRI, the mural nodule showed significant enhancement, but the cystic wall and content showed no enhancement. In case 3, a remarkably enhanced solid nodule was found in the cortex of the left parietal lobe with multiple small cysts surrounding it. This nodule showed low signal intensity on T2WI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI; TR/TE 6,000 ms/96.8 ms, b = 1,000 s/mm²). The preoperative diagnoses of the above three cases were meningioma, hemangioblastoma, and ganglioglioma. However, all were pathologically diagnosed as MA.

Conclusion

The presented cases demonstrate that MA may present with solid and cystic imaging patterns, which may include large cystic-mural nodules and small intra- and extra-cystic patterns. Although MA imaging diagnoses are difficult, several MRI signs may include specific characteristics, such as a flow void effect on T2WI and separating cysts in the cystic MA (as shown in our cases), gyriform hyperintensity on T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence, and susceptibility artifacts on T2 gradient echo (GRE) sequences (as found in the literature).

Sporadic meningioangiomatosis: imaging findings with histopathologic correlations in seven patients

INTRODUCTION

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare benign cerebral lesion. We aimed to evaluate the CT and MR features of sporadic MA, with a focus on the correlation between imaging and histopathologic findings.

METHODS

CT (n = 7) and MR (n = 8) images of eight patients (6 men and 2 women; mean age, 12.8 years; range, 4-22 years) with pathologically proven MA were retrospectively reviewed. After dividing the MA lesions according to their distribution into cortical and subcortical white matter components, the morphologic characteristics were analyzed and correlated with histopathologic findings in seven patients.

RESULTS

CT and MR images showed cortical (n = 4, 50%) and subcortical white matter (n = 7, 88%) components of MA. All four cortical components revealed hyperattenuation on CT scan and T1 isointensity/T2 hypointensity on MR images, whereas subcortical white matter components showed hypoattenuation on CT scan and T1 hypointensity/T2 hyperintensity on MR images. Two cortical components (25%) demonstrated enhancement and one subcortical white matter component demonstrated cystic change. Seven cases were available for imaging-histopathologic correlation. In all seven cases, the cortex was involved by MA and six patients (86%) showed subcortical white matter involvement by MA. There were excellent correlations between the imaging and histopathologic findings in subcortical white matter components, and the accuracy was 100% (seven of seven); whereas there were poor correlations in cortical components, and the accuracy was 43% (three of seven).

CONCLUSIONS

The cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter were concomitantly involved by MA. Subcortical white matter components of MA were more apparent than cortical components on CT and MR imaging.

Focal epileptogenic lesions

The spectrum of focal epileptogenic lesions and their clinical manifestations in children differ substantially from those seen in adults. In adults, mesial temporal sclerosis is the common lesion in surgical series; but in children, MTS is uncommon, and when it does occur, it exists frequently as dual pathology. The most common lesions in pediatric epilepsy surgery candidates are malformations of cortical development, developmental tumors, or encephalomalacia from infarction, hypoxia, trauma, or infection. Careful analysis of the lesion characteristics on brain MRI is sufficiently predictive of pathology in most cases. Histopathological evaluation remains the gold standard for diagnosis of mass lesions. The electroclinical phenotype of epilepsy in adults is largely determined by the anatomical location of the lesion and its connectivity. In children, in addition to the location of the lesion, the age at onset of the lesion and the age at onset of epilepsy have a major impact on the electroclinical phenotype. Children with congenital or early acquired lesions may manifest with generalized features on EEG and seizure semiology. Experience from various centers has demonstrated that a subset of these children benefit from epilepsy surgery despite a generalized epilepsy phenotype. All children with medically refractory epilepsy and a focal lesion should undergo evaluation for potential epilepsy surgery irrespective of the EEG findings and seizure semiology.

Meningioangiomatosis Without Neurofibromatosis Type 2

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare, benign hamartomatous lesion found in cerebral cortex and leptomeninges. It occurs mostly in 5 - 15 year old children in form isolated or diffuse; the diffuse form may be associated with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). The sporadic type in the adults is less common.The patient was a 37 year-old man with a long history of frontal headache. In suspected sinusitis, the patient underwent cerebral MRI that showed hypointense lesion in the right frontal lobe with heterogeneous contrast enhancement after gadolinium administration. There were no stigmata or family history of neurofibromatosis. A right pterional approach with a supraorbital craniotomy was performed. The lesion was removed with complete remission of the headache in the postoperative time. MA enters into differential diagnosis with several other diseases and a correct diagnosis is mandatory. The total surgical removal is the treatment of choice, and the prognosis after surgery is usually excellent for the absence of recurrence in sporadic cases.

Meningioangiomatosis: a case report and literature review emphasizing diverse appearance on different imaging modalities

Purpose. Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare, benign lesion that commonly mimics other intracranial malformations in clinical presentation and appearance on imaging. The case presented and the literature review performed highlight the importance of combining MRI and CT results to better characterize intracranial lesions and including MA on the list of differential diagnoses of patients presenting with seizures. Methods. The case described is of a 19-year-old male with a 10-year history of worsening seizures refractory to multiple drug regimens. MRI revealed an atypical vascular malformation. The patient underwent surgical resection of the epileptogenic cortex. Results. Although the radiologic impression of the lesion was a vascular malformation, pathological examination revealed MA. A literature search performed highlights the variability of the appearance of MA on CT and MRI and suggests the utility of the T2 GRE sequence in illustrating the presence of calcification and, in a lesion with other characteristic features, the diagnosis of MA. Conclusion. MA can be a difficult diagnosis to make based on imaging findings alone. However, in a patient with a characteristic history and presentation, the presence of a calcified mass on CT and MRI brain susceptibility artifact on a T2 GRE sequence may suggest MA.

Meningioangiomatosis in a 5-year-old boy presenting with intractable seizures

A 5-year-old boy with a history of epilepsy underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of an increase in seizure frequency. Brain MRI demonstrated a left frontal lesion. The patient was operated upon, and gross total excision was performed. The histological diagnosis was meningioangiomatosis. On follow-up examination 10 years later, the patient was free of seizures and without any evidence of tumor recurrence. Meningioangiomatosis is a rare benign hamartomatous lesion that is associated with seizures. Complete excision is associated with favorable long-term outcome. The novelty of the present case is the young age of the child at presentation and the curative role of surgery considering the long-term follow-up.