Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively differences in MR signal intensity and contrast enhancement between intra- and extracranial components of jugular foramen meningioma (JFM).
METHODS: MR studies of eight patients who underwent surgery for histologically confirmed JFM were reviewed retrospectively. Signal intensity differences between intra- and extracranial components of all eight JFMs on axial T1-, T2-, and postcontrast T1-weighted images were evaluated visually. In six of the eight JFMs, quantitative signal intensity evaluations were also performed by using relative signal intensity ratios of the intra- and extracranial components of JFM to CNS tissue at the same level. Paired t tests were used to evaluate differences in relative signal intensity ratios in each JFM between intra- and extracranial components.
RESULTS: Both visual and quantitative signal intensity evaluations revealed that signal intensities of the intracranial component of JFM were significantly higher than those of the extracranial component on T1-, T2-, and postcontrast T1-weighted images. Results of relative signal intensity ratios were 0.89 ± 0.04 versus 0.77 ± 0.02 on T1-weighted images (P = .002); 1.66 ± 0.28 versus 0.88 ± 0.14 on T2-weighted images (P = .003); and 2.16 ± 0.29 versus 1.77 ± 0.26 on postcontrast T1-weighted images (P = .01).
CONCLUSION: Intra- and extracranial components of JFM display different signal intensity and enhancement patterns. These differences may be related to histologic composition, and in particular, collagen content.
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