Purpose or Case Report: When evaluating the pediatric neuroaxis, it is important to include the extra-axial spaces in the radiologists’ search pattern. The purpose of the presentation is to show a multimodality pictorial review of characteristic findings of extra-axial CNS lesions detected on CT and MRI.
Methods & Materials: A search for extra-axial CNS lesions was performed by reviewing studies stored on the picture archiving and communication system of an urban children’s hospital between 2006 and 2017. A variety of cases were identified in the head and spine. A literature search on current information related to the diagnoses was performed. The presented cases include: lipoma, epidermoid, ruptured dermoid, transitional meningioma with brain invasion, inflammatory pseudotumor, lymphoma, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, craniopharyngioma, arachnoid cyst, epidural abscess, neurofibroma and ganglioneuroblastoma metastases.
Results: A broad range of pathologies can occur in the extra-axial spaces, including benign and malignant lesions. By observing characteristics as described in the pictorial review, an appropriate differential diagnosis may be made enabling appropriate and efficient clinical management.
Conclusions: Many extra-axial CNS lesions demonstrate characteristic features that may help narrow the differential diagnosis affecting clinical decision making. This presentation will help the radiologist recognize these characteristic features. At times, a definitive diagnosis cannot be given and tissue sampling is required to make this determination.