Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi
2017 , Vol 27 , Num 1
Radiology in Posterior Fossa Tumors
1İstanbul Üniversitesi, Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye2Ege Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, İzmir, Türkiye Posterior cranial fossa has a limited volume when compared with the supratentorial space. Important structures such as brainstem, cerebral aquaduct, fourth ventricle and cerebellum are located in the posterior fossa. A growing posterior fossa mass lesion may cause neurological dysfunctions by compressing on the cerebellum and brainstem. In addition, these lesions may be required emergency surgical intervention by causing hydrocephalus, edema and mass effect.
Posterior fossa tumors are more common in children than adults. Central nervous system tumors are in the 2nd rank after the leukemia in childhood, and most common solid tumors in children. 54-70 percent of pediatric brain tumors are located in the posterior fossa and this ratio is 15-20% among the adults. The most common posterior fossa tumor is metastasis and most common primary posterior fossa tumor is hemangioblastoma in adulthood. But, in children, medulloblastoma, astrocytoma and ependymoma are the most common 3 tumors.
In this review, the standard imaging findings and advanced imaging features of posterior fossa tumors by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be mentioned.
Anahtar Kelimeler : Posterior fossa, Tumor, Ependymoma, Astrocytoma, Metastasis, Hemangioblastoma