The radiology of epidermoid tumors of the cerebellopontine angle.

Abstract

Angiographic, pneumoencephalographic and iophendylate cisternographic features of three recently investigated primary epidermoid tumors of the cerebellopontine angle are presented and the radiology of these lesions is reviewed. Modern neuroradiological techniques, including magnification vertebral angiography with subtraction,and fractional pneumoencephalography with multidirectional laminographic capability, can provide the correct preoperative diagnosis. Combined techniques exclude cerebellopontine angle lesions such as acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, posterior fossa aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. The appropriate studies fully outline the epidermoid lesions, with their relationship to adjacent neural and vascular structures.