eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Brain/Spine
Schwannoma, Cranial Nerve: Multimedia
Updated: Oct 18, 2007
Multimedia
 | Media file 1: Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image at the level of the internal auditory canal shows a strongly enhancing cisternal vestibular schwannoma (arrow) that compresses the adjacent pons and cerebellum and distorts the fourth ventricle. |
 | Media file 2: Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted axial image through the internal auditory canal shows a heterogeneously enhancing intracanalicular-cisternal vestibular schwannoma (white arrow). Anterior to the schwannoma, a tumor-related cyst is depicted (black arrow). |
 | Media file 3: Intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma. Axial constructive interference in the steady state (CISS) image shows a 3-mm mass (arrow) in the internal auditory canal as a filling defect in the bright cerebrospinal fluid. |
 | Media file 4: Vestibular schwannoma. Axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image confirms the intracanalicular mass (arrow) depicted in Image 3. |
 | Media file 5: Cerebellopontine angle meningioma. Axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image through the cerebellopontine angle shows a large cisternal mass. The intracanalicular component (white arrow) can mimic a vestibular schwannoma, although the broad-based dural attachment (red arrows) is more consistent with a meningioma. |
 | Media file 6: Bilateral vestibular schwannomas. Axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image reveals bilateral vestibular schwannomas (arrows), which are diagnostic of neurofibromatosis type 2. |
 | Media file 7: CT scan through the skull base shows soft tissue expansion of the facial nerve canal in the petrous bone (arrow). |
 | Media file 8: Facial schwannoma. Axial T1-weighted image at the level of the internal auditory canal shows a soft tissue mass (arrow) along the course of the tympanic segment of the facial nerve. |
 | Media file 9: Facial schwannoma. Coronal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows a schwannoma (arrow) involving the mastoid segment of cranial nerve VII. |
 | Media file 10: Facial neuritis. Axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows enhancement of the distal intracanalicular, labyrinthine, and geniculate, segments (arrow) of cranial nerve VII. |
 | Media file 11: Facial neuritis. Coronal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows enhancement of the labyrinthine and tympanic segments of cranial nerve VII (arrow). |
 | Media file 12: Trigeminal schwannoma. Coronal T2-weighted image shows a hyperintense mass in the right cavernous sinus (arrow). |
 | Media file 13: Trigeminal schwannoma. Axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image at the level of the mid pons shows a strongly enhancing mass involving the left cranial nerve V in the cistern (black arrow) and Meckel cave (white arrow). |
 | Media file 14: Trigeminal schwannoma. Axial constructive interference in the steady state (CISS) image shows a mass in the region of the cisternal segment of the right cranial nerve V (white arrow). The left cranial nerve V without tumor (black arrow) also is depicted. |
 | Media file 15: Trigeminal schwannoma. Coronal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image (in the same patient as in Image 12) shows the mass arising from the cisternal segment of the right cranial nerve V. The left cranial nerve V (without tumor) also is shown (arrow). |
 | Media file 16: Lymphoma of the Meckel cave. Coronal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows an enhancing mass in the Meckel cave on the right (white arrow). The left Meckel cave is without tumor (black arrow). Lymphomatous meningitis can mimic a cranial nerve schwannoma. |
 | Media file 17: Cranial nerve IV schwannoma. Axial and coronal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images demonstrate a small mass (arrows) involving the cisternal segment of cranial nerve IV adjacent to the midbrain. Courtesy of Glenn A Tung, MD, Brown Medical School. |
 | Media file 18: Carcinomatous meningitis. Coronal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image reveals bilateral cranial nerve V (white arrows) and cranial nerve VIII masses (red arrows). The patient had lung cancer with cerebrospinal fluid spread manifesting as multiple cranial nerve masses. |
 | Media file 19: Glossopharyngeal schwannoma. Axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image shows a large extra-axial mass that compresses the brainstem (black arrows) and extends into the skull base (white arrows). |
 | Media file 20: Glossopharyngeal schwannoma. Coronal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image (in the same patient as in Image 17) shows a mass (arrows) extending through the skull base via the jugular foramen. |
 | Media file 21: Glossopharyngeal schwannoma. Digital subtraction angiogram obtained with an ascending pharyngeal arterial injection reveals a moderately hypervascular schwannoma (arrows), which is atypical for schwannomas. (Image obtained in the same patient as in Images 17-19.) |
 | Media file 22: Extracranial vagal schwannoma. Axial contrast-enhanced CT scan shows a heterogeneous mass (arrow) in the neck posterior to the carotid vessels. |
 | Media file 23: Glomus jugulare. Axial CT scan obtained through the skull base shows extensive bone destruction (arrows), unlike the smooth expansion seen with schwannomas. |
 | Media file 24: Glomus jugulare. Digital subtraction angiogram shows a markedly hypervascular mass (arrow) in contrast to a typical hypovascular schwannoma or the moderately hypervascular schwannoma depicted in Image 21. |
More on Schwannoma, Cranial Nerve |
| Overview: Schwannoma, Cranial Nerve |
| Imaging: Schwannoma, Cranial Nerve |
| Follow-up: Schwannoma, Cranial Nerve |
 Multimedia: Schwannoma, Cranial Nerve |
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References
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Further Reading
Keywords
neuroma; CN schwannomas; Schwann cells; vestibular schwannomas; trigeminal schwannomas; facial schwannomas; glossopharyngeal schwannomas; vagus schwannomas; spinal accessory schwannomas; oculomotor schwannomas; hypoglossal schwannomas; abducens schwannomas; trochlear schwannomas; neurofibromatosis type 2; NF2; multiple inherited schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas syndrome; MISME syndrome
