Summary
The radiological and clinical features of 90 histologically verified intraventricular masses were reviewed. Computed tomography (CT) and plain X-rays were available in all and angiograms in over half the cases. The localisation, effects on the adjacent brain substance and the presence and degree of hydrocephalus was evident on CT. Two-thirds of colloid cysts presented as pathognomonic anterior third ventricular hyperdense masses and the other third were isodense; an alternative diagnosis should be considered for low density masses in this situation. Plexus papillomas and carcinomas mainly involved the trigone and body of a lateral ventricle of young children and caused asymmetrical hydrocephalus; the third ventricle was occasionally affected also in children and the fourth ventricle more frequently and usually in adults. Two-thirds were hyperdense, one-third of mixed or lower density. The meningiomas were dense trigonal tumours of adults generally arising in the choroid plexus, but two tentorial meningiomas passed through the choroidal fissure and caused a predominantly intraventricular mass. Gliomas frequently thickened the septum and generally involved the frontal segments of the lateral ventricles. They may be supplied by perforating as well as by the choroidal arteries, which supply most other vascularised masses within the ventricles. Only 10% of our cases did not fall into one of the former categories; these included low density non-enhancing dermoid or epidermoid tumours and higher density enhancing metastatic or angiomatous masses.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Russel DS, Rubinstein LJ (1977) Pathology of tumours of the nervous system, 4th ed. Arnolds, London, pp 146–282
Bernasconi V, Cabrini GP (1967) Radiological features of tumour of the lateral ventricles. Acta Neurochir 17: 290–310
Numazuchi Y, Kishikawa T, Fukui M, Komaki S, Russell WJ, Ikeda J, Okudera T, Matsuura K, Kikamura K (1978) Angiographic diagnosis of fourth ventricle tumours. Radiology 128: 393–403
Deck MDF (1978) The lateral ventricles. In: Newton TH, Potts DG (eds) Radiology of the skull and brain. Ventricles and cisterns, Vol 4. Mosby, St Louis, pp 3489–3578
Batnizky S, Sarwar M, Leeds NF, Schechter MM, Azar-Kia B (1974) Colloid cysts of the third ventricle. Radiology 112: 327–334
Thompson JR, Harwood-Nash DC, Fitz CR (1973) The neuroradiology of childhood choroid plexus neoplasms. AJR 116: 116–132
Kobayashi S, Okazaki H, MacCarthy CS (1971) Intraventricular meningiomas. Mayo Clin Proc 46: 735–741
Gassel MM, Davies H (1961) Meningiomas in the lateral ventricles. Brain 84: 605–626
Harwood-Nash DC, Fitz CR (1976) Neuroradiology in infants and children, Vol 2. Mosby, St Louis, pp 669–752
Sage MR, McAllister VL, Kendall BE, Bull JWD, Moseley IF (1975) Radiology in the diagnosis of colloid cysts of the third ventricle. Br J Radiol 48: 708–723
Coin CG, Coin JW, Glover MB (1977) Vascular tumours of the choroid plexus. Diagnosis by computed tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1: 146–148
Azar-Kia B, Sarwar M, Schechter M, Batnitzky S (1974) Subependymal veins and ventricular tumours. Radiology 113: 81–88
Mani RL, Hedgcock MW, Mass SI, Gilmor RL, Enzmann DR, Eisenberg RL (1978) Radiographic diagnosis of meningioma of the lateral ventricle. J Neurosurg 49: 249–255
Jefferson G, Jackson H (1939) Tumours of the lateral and of the third ventricles. Proc R Soc Med 32: 1105–1137
Zee C, Segall HD, Miller C, Tsai FY, Teal JS, Hieshima G, Ahmadi J, Halls J (1980) Unusual neuroradiological features of intracranial cysticereosis. Radiology 137: 387–407
Jankowski R, Zimmerman RD, Leeds NE (1979) Cysticereosis presenting as a mass lesion at foramen of munro. J Comput Assist Tomogr 3: 694–696
Baker HL, Houser W, Campbell JK (1980) National Cancer Institute Study: Evaluation of computed tomography in the diagnosis of intracranial neoplasms, I. Overall results. Radiology 136: 91–96
New PFJ, Hesselink CP, O'Carroll CP, Kleinman GM (1982) Malignant meningioma: CT and histological criteria, including a new CT sign. AJNR 3: 267–276
Challa VR, Moody DM, Marshall RB, Kelly DL (1980) The vascular component in meningioma associated with severe cerebral oedema. Neurosurgery 7: 363–367
Bryan P (1974) CSF seeding of intracranial tumours—a study of 97 cases. Clin Radiol 25: 355–360
Sackett JE, Messina AV, Petito CK (1975) Computed tomography and magnification vertebral angiotomography in the diagnosis of colloid cysts of the third ventricle. Radiology 116: 95–100
Falk B (1956) Radiologic diagnosis of intraventricular meningiomas. Acta Radiol 46: 171–177
Wall AE (1954) Meningiomas within the lateral ventricle. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 17: 91–103
Huang YS, Araki C (1954) Angiographic confirmation of lateral ventricle meningiomas. J Neurosurg 4: 337–351
Palacios E, Lawson RC (1972) Choroid plexus papillomas of the lateral ventricles. AJR 115: 113–119
Rovit RC, Schechter MM, Chodroff P (1970) Choroid plexus papillomas. AJR 110: 608–617
Stanley P (1968) Papillomas of the choroid plexus. Br J Radiol 41: 878–857
Hammon WM, Kempe LG, Hayes GL (1963) Angiographic appearance of a papilloma of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles. J Neurosurg 20: 711–714
Laurence KM, Hoare RD, Till K (1961) The diagnosis of the choroid plexus papilloma of the lateral ventricle. Brain 84: 628–641
Crofton FDL, Matson DD (1960) Roentgenologic study of choroid plexus papillomas in childhood. AJR 84: 479–487
Matson DD, Crofton FDL (1960) Papilloma of the choroid plexus of childhood. J Neurosurg 17: 1002–1027
Banna M (1971) Angiography of malignant choroid plexus papilloma Br J Radiol 44: 412–415
Jones PG, Campbell PE (1976) Tumours of infancy and childhood. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 279–280
Hertz DA, Lieveskind A, Rosenthal A, Schechter MM (1975) Cerebral angiographic changes associated with tuberous sclerosis. Radiology 115: 647–649
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kendall, B., Reider-Grosswasser, I. & Valentine, A. Diagnosis of masses presenting within the ventricles on computed tomography. Neuroradiology 25, 11–22 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327474
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327474