eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Brain/Spine

Neurofibromatosis Type 2: Multimedia

Author: Andrew L Wagner, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Instructional Faculty, University of Virginia School of Medicine; Director of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Rockingham Memorial Hospital
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 17, 2008

Multimedia

Axial T1-weighted postcontrast image demonstrates...
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Media file 1: Axial T1-weighted postcontrast image demonstrates bilateral internal auditory canal-enhancing masses that are diagnostic for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). No biopsy is necessary for the diagnosis. Notice the en plaque meningioma anterior to the brainstem.
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Axial T1-weighted postcontrast image demonstrates...

Axial T1-weighted postcontrast image demonstrates bilateral internal auditory canal-enhancing masses that are diagnostic for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). No biopsy is necessary for the diagnosis. Notice the en plaque meningioma anterior to the brainstem.

Sagittal T1-weighted postcontrast image in a pati...
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Media file 2: Sagittal T1-weighted postcontrast image in a patient with known neurofibromatosis type 2 that demonstrates 2 midline meningiomas (arrowheads), one over the convexity and one along the vein of Galen. The enhancing mass in the medulla (arrow) most likely is an ependymoma.
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Sagittal T1-weighted postcontrast image in a pati...

Sagittal T1-weighted postcontrast image in a patient with known neurofibromatosis type 2 that demonstrates 2 midline meningiomas (arrowheads), one over the convexity and one along the vein of Galen. The enhancing mass in the medulla (arrow) most likely is an ependymoma.

Axial postcontrast T1-weighted image demonstrates...
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Media file 3: Axial postcontrast T1-weighted image demonstrates a large enhancing sellar meningioma surrounding both internal carotid arteries in this case of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) (black arrows). Enhancing tissue in the ethmoid air cells also represents a meningioma extending through the cribriform plate. Meningiomas in patients with NF2 can be more aggressive and invasive than spontaneous meningiomas. Note the small, round, enhancing extra-axial mass posterior to the tectum (white arrow). Although this could represent another meningioma, the shape and location suggest it is a trochlear (CN IV) schwannoma instead.
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Axial postcontrast T1-weighted image demonstrates...

Axial postcontrast T1-weighted image demonstrates a large enhancing sellar meningioma surrounding both internal carotid arteries in this case of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) (black arrows). Enhancing tissue in the ethmoid air cells also represents a meningioma extending through the cribriform plate. Meningiomas in patients with NF2 can be more aggressive and invasive than spontaneous meningiomas. Note the small, round, enhancing extra-axial mass posterior to the tectum (white arrow). Although this could represent another meningioma, the shape and location suggest it is a trochlear (CN IV) schwannoma instead.

Sagittal T1-weighted postcontrast image of the th...
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Media file 4: Sagittal T1-weighted postcontrast image of the thoracic spine demonstrates an enhancing extra-axial meningioma (arrow) anterior to the cord with a complex enhancing mass (arrowheads) that represents a conus ependymoma filling the spinal canal in the lower thoracic spine.
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Sagittal T1-weighted postcontrast image of the th...

Sagittal T1-weighted postcontrast image of the thoracic spine demonstrates an enhancing extra-axial meningioma (arrow) anterior to the cord with a complex enhancing mass (arrowheads) that represents a conus ependymoma filling the spinal canal in the lower thoracic spine.

Magnetic resonance image (MRI) in a 62-year-old m...
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Media file 5: Magnetic resonance image (MRI) in a 62-year-old man who presented with unilateral hearing loss. This MRI demonstrates an enhancing mass in the right internal auditory canal (IAC) that was interpreted as a probable cranial nerve VIII (CN VIII) schwannoma. Although no other abnormalities were detected, the examination was performed as a limited MRI and imaged only the internal IACs. Further screening was not indicated because the chance that this patient had NF2 is exceedingly low.
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Magnetic resonance image (MRI) in a 62-year-old m...

Magnetic resonance image (MRI) in a 62-year-old man who presented with unilateral hearing loss. This MRI demonstrates an enhancing mass in the right internal auditory canal (IAC) that was interpreted as a probable cranial nerve VIII (CN VIII) schwannoma. Although no other abnormalities were detected, the examination was performed as a limited MRI and imaged only the internal IACs. Further screening was not indicated because the chance that this patient had NF2 is exceedingly low.

More on Neurofibromatosis Type 2

Overview: Neurofibromatosis Type 2
Imaging: Neurofibromatosis Type 2
Follow-up: Neurofibromatosis Type 2
Multimedia: Neurofibromatosis Type 2
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

neurofibromatosis with bilateral acoustic neuromas, NF2, neurofibromatosis 2, central neurofibromatosis, NF-2, neurofibromatosis II, schwannomatosis, MISME syndrome

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Andrew L Wagner, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Instructional Faculty, University of Virginia School of Medicine; Director of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Rockingham Memorial Hospital
Andrew L Wagner, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, American Society of Neuroradiology, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Mahesh R Patel, MD, Chief of MRI, Department of Radiology, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Mahesh R Patel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Robert L DeLaPaz, MD, Director, Professor, Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Columbia University
Robert L DeLaPaz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Neuroradiology, Association of University Radiologists, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Robert M Krasny, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute
Robert M Krasny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

James G Smirniotopoulos, MD, Professor of Radiology, Neurology, and Biomedical Informatics, Chairman, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
James G Smirniotopoulos, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, American Society of Head and Neck Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Association of University Radiologists, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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