[High-field MRI and pathological diagnosis of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors].

Objective: To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (sPNET) and improve the diagnosis of this disease.

Methods: MRI manifestations of 14 cases of PNET were retrospectively analyzed and compared with their pathological features.

Results: The supratentorial lesions involved the occipital lobe in 4, frontal lobe in 3, fronto-occipital lobe in 2, temporo-occipital lobe in 3, lateral ventricle in 1 case and the saddle region in 1. All the lesions were large in volume and most of them presented heterogeneous signals in MRI. Of the 14 cases, 12 showed cystic degeneration and necrosis, 2 had hemorrhage and 6 showed signs of emptied small blood vessels. Twelve cases had heterogeneous enhancement and 2 had moderate enhancement. Pathologically, 10 cases of neuroblastomas were identified, along with 3 ganglioneuroblastomas and 1 atypical rhabdoid tumor.

Conclusion: MRI findings of PNET are rather characteristic to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, but a final definite diagnosis still relies on pathological examination.