Primary Intra-Axial Brain Tumours

Abstract

In this chapter, we review the different categories of tumours of the central nervous system with examples of each of them from low-grade to high-grade tumours.

The cases have been classified and listed according to the latest WHO 2016 classification of brain tumours. The 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) brain tumour classification included numerous significant changes, incorporating genetic information. Radiologists play a key role in brain tumour diagnosis and management. Imaging can demonstrate characteristic patterns that correlate with certain categories or subtypes, therefore it is essential to be up to date and be familiar with this new classification.

Representative cases of the different groups have been selected and described, which includes: (1) diffuse astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumours (diffuse astrocytoma, glioblastoma, gliosarcoma, diffuse midline glioma and oligodendroglioma), (2) other astrocytic tumours (pilocytic astrocytoma and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour), (3) neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumours (ganglioglioma), embryonal tumours (medulloblastoma), (4) mesenchymal non-meningothelial tumours (haemangioblastoma) and (5) lymphoma.

The main imaging aspects of each category are discussed including the features seen on advance imaging techniques (diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion imaging and spectroscopy).

Tumour genetics has been included in the discussion, unifying genetic information and neuroimaging data. Combining those data provides relevant information for patient treatment and prognosis, representing a big challenge in this field.