RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Direct Cranial Nerve Involvement by Gliomas: Case Series and Review of the Literature
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 1349
OP 1354
DO 10.3174/ajnr.A4287
VO 36
IS 7
A1 Mabray, M.C.
A1 Glastonbury, C.M.
A1 Mamlouk, M.D.
A1 Punch, G.E.
A1 Solomon, D.A.
A1 Cha, S.
YR 2015
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/36/7/1349.abstract
AB SUMMARY: Malignant gliomas are characterized by infiltrative growth of tumor cells, including along white matter tracts. This may result in clinical cranial neuropathy due to direct involvement of a cranial nerve rather than by leptomeningeal spread along cranial nerves. Gliomas directly involving cranial nerves III–XII are rare, with only 11 cases reported in the literature before 2014, including 8 with imaging. We present 8 additional cases demonstrating direct infiltration of a cranial nerve by a glioma. Asymmetric cisternal nerve expansion compared with the contralateral nerve was noted with a mean length of involvement of 9.4 mm. Based on our case series, the key imaging feature for recognizing direct cranial nerve involvement by a glioma is the detection of an intra-axial mass in the pons or midbrain that is directly associated with expansion, signal abnormality, and/or enhancement of the adjacent cranial nerves.WHOWorld Health OrganizationCNcranial nerve