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.