Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of sellar and juxtasellar tumors

Abstract

Background: Sellar and parasellar/juxtasellar regions are complex areas of the brain, and different varieties of tumors can occur in this area. Preoperative noninvasive diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for treatment planning. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study is to characterize MRI features of the sellar and juxtasellar tumors and to correlate MRI diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis in order to evaluate the efficiency of MRI. Materials and Methods: Patients with sellar and juxtasellar lesions who were operated during September 2015–August 2017 and the pathological reports were compared with the MRI findings retrospectively. Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled in the study, and the mean age of presentation was 34.6 years. MRI-based radiological diagnosis showed 21 cases of pituitary macroadenoma, 15 cases of craniopharyngioma, 9 cases of meningioma, 2 cases of germinoma, 1 case of glioma, and 2 cases of epidermoid cysts. Histopathological correlation revealed MRI accuracy of 94.12%, 94%, 100%, 98%, 100%, and 100% for the diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma, craniopharyngioma, meningioma, germinoma, glioma, and epidermoid cyst, respectively. One case each of pituitary macroadenoma and germinoma diagnosed on MRI comes out to be as craniopharyngioma after final histopathological correlation, whereas one case of craniopharyngioma turned out to be macroadenoma after final histopathological examination. Conclusions: The present study revealed a strong correlation between MRI and histopathological diagnosis for sellar and juxtasellar tumors. MRI is the modality of choice for characterizing sellar and suprasellar lesions.