Multinodular and Vacuolating Neuronal Tumor of the Cerebrum(MVNT)

Abstract

Multinodular and vacuolating neuronal tumors of the cerebrum(MVNTs)are rare brain tumors that were described first in 2013. MVNTs have been added to the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System in 2016(2016WHO), although an MVNT is a clinical-pathological lesion with uncertain class assignment. It remains unclear whether MVNTs should be considered a true neoplasm or malformative lesion. Their prevalence and pathophysiology are unknown. MVNTs typically occur in adults, predominantly in the cerebral subcortical region, and are most frequently associated with seizures or seizure equivalents. MVMTs can also present incidentally without seizures. MVNTs have been reported to show highly suggestive imaging features, especially on MRI scans. MVNTs consist of small T2 and T2-FLAIR hyperintense nodules in subcortical and juxtacortical areas with rare or no post-contrast enhancement. Most MVNTs reported in the literature involve the supratentorial part of the brain. Recently, lesions exhibiting a remarkably similar pattern of imaging findings were described in the posterior fossa, which are referred to as multinodular and vacuolating posterior fossa of unknown significance(MV-PLUS). Both MVNT and MV-PLUS are considered "leave-me-alone" lesions because of the absence of malignancy criteria and the lack of evolutivity on follow-up MRI scans.