
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Medulloblastoma MRI
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Brain MRI with gadolinium based contrast is the investigation of choice for the diagnosis of medulloblastoma. On a T1 weighted brain MRI image, medulloblastoma is characterized by a hypointense mass located at the posterior cerebral fossa that may demonstrate calcification and necrosis.[1]
MRI
MRI
- Brain MRI with gadolinium based contrast is the investigation of choice for the diagnosis of medulloblastoma.[1]
- On brain MRI, medulloblastoma is characterized by a mass located at the posterior cerebral fossa.
- MRI image characteristics observed among medulloblastoma patients include:
- T1 weighted image demonstrates:
- Hypointense mass
- T1 weighted image with gadolinium contrast demonstrates:
- Heterogeneous enhancement in 90% of the cases
- T2 weighted image demonstrates:
- Heterogeneous/hyperintense enhancement due to calcification, necrosis, and cyst formation
- FLAIR MRI image demonstrates:[2]
- Localized areas of isointensity or hypointensity
- Radiating star-shaped enhancement
- Multiple nodular enhancing pattern
- Gadolinium based contrast MRI imaging of the whole central nervous system is recommended to identify any drop metastases and leptomeningeal seeding.[1]
For magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy of medulloblastoma please click here.
Gallery
Gallery
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Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
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Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
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Sagittal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
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Sagittal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
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Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
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Sagittal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
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Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
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Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
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Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]
References
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Medulloblastoma. Radiopaedia(2015) http://radiopaedia.org/articles/medulloblastoma Accessed on September, 30th 2015
- ↑ Liu HQ, Yin X, Li Y, Zhang J, Wang Y, Tchoyoson Lim CC; et al. (2012). “MRI features in children with desmoplastic medulloblastoma”. J Clin Neurosci. 19 (2): 281–5. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2011.04.029. PMID 22209398.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Haytham Allaham, M.D. [2]

![Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/4/47/Medulloblastoma-01.jpg)
![Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/9/92/Medulloblastoma-02.jpg)
![Sagittal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/7/72/Medulloblastoma-04.jpg)
![Sagittal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/7/73/Medulloblastoma-06.jpg)
![Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/9/91/Medulloblastoma-07.jpg)
![Sagittal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/8/8e/Medulloblastoma-001.jpg)
![Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/5/50/Medulloblastoma-002.jpg)
![Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/c/cc/Medulloblastoma-003.jpg)
![Coronal MRI section of medulloblastoma[1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/8/84/Medulloblastoma-004.jpg)