Intraventricular Oligodendrogliomas

Intraventricular oligodendrogliomas are rare tumors that have imaging characteristics different from oligodendrogliomas arising in the brain parenchyma. Patients tend to present with headaches due to increased intracranial pressure and usually have a shorter duration of symptoms. This is in contrast to patients with parenchymal lesiosn, who tend to present with focal neurologic deficits or seizures.

It has been suggested that some cases of intraventricular oligodendrogliomas may actually represent central neurocytomas due to the similar imaging and histopathologic findings.

CT shows a high-attenuation lesions that enhance on contrast administration and attach to the ventricular wall. MRI reveals lesion heterogenous signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images with cystic and solid components and intense enhancement.

The images above show a mass in the trigone of the left lateral ventricle with heterogeneous attenuation on non-contrast CT. The mass has cystic and solid components on MRI, as well as areas of susceptibility roughly corresponding to the areas of higher attenutation on CT, likely representing calcification. The solid components enhanced on post-gadolinium images.

References

• Atasoy Ç, Karagülle AT, Erden İ, Akyar S. primary oligodendroglioma of the lateral ventricle: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings. Journal of ankara medical school, 2002; 55(1): 39-44.
• Koeller KK, Rushing EJ. From the archives of the AFIP: Oligodendroglioma and its variants: radiologic-pathologic correlation. Radiographics. 2005 Nov-Dec;25(6):1669-88.
• McConachie NS, Worthington BS, Cornford EJ, Balsitis M, Kerslake RW, Jaspan T. Review article: computed tomography and magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of intraventricular cerebral masses. Br J Radiol. 1994 Mar;67(795):223-43.