Anatomical relationships between medullary veins and three types of deep-seated malignant brain tumors as detected by susceptibility-weighted imaging.

Abstract

Deep-seated brain tumors can be difficult to differentiate. Three tumor types (primary central nervous system lymphoma [PCNSL], high-grade glioma, and metastatic brain tumors), identified by susceptibility-weighted imaging, have different relationships with small medullary veins, and these relationships can be used to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Records of patients with pathology confirmed malignant brain tumors who received susceptibility-weighted imaging between 2009 and 2015 were reviewed. A total of 29 patients with deep-seated malignant brain tumors in the territory of small medullary veins were enrolled in this study. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of medullary vein blockage (MVB), defined as a small medullary vein terminating at the margin of the tumor, for indicating malignant brain tumors were analyzed. Of 11 patients with PCNSLs, 5 with high-grade gliomas, and 13 with metastases, only the latter presented MVBs. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of using MVBs for diagnosing metastatic tumors were 76.9%, 100%, and 89.7%, respectively. An MVB is an accurate sign for differentiating metastatic brain tumors from two other common malignancies and thus provides a useful tool for preoperative planning.