MR and CT Evaluation of Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor

Abstract

A 33-year-old man presented with a long history of intractable partial seizures with the first episode at the age of 18 years. The seizure frequency had increased in the recent past. CT imaging revealed a low attenuation lesion in the left frontal cortex with calvarial scalloping. MR imaging revealed a heterogeneous signal intensity lesion with involvement of the cortex and the sub-cortical white matter. In dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor the neoplastic elements adjacent to the cortex might cause disorganization of cortical layers in the developmental stage leading to cortical dysplasia. Architectural dysplasia is characterized by cortical thickening and ectopic neurons in the white matter. MR imaging features reflect the characteristics of cortical dysplasia and ectopic neurons in the sub-cortical white matter.