Radiological Calcification in Posterior Fossa Tumours

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Church, in 1899, was the first to detect calcification in a posterior fossa tumour by means of X rays. Since then conflicting opinions as to the incidence of calcification in infratentorial lesions have accumulated in the literature. Some authors (Pancoast, Pendergrass and Shaeffer, 1940; Dandy, 1945; Orley, 1949; Cairns and Jupe, 1951; Tola, 1951; Bull, 1953) have considered radiological calcification in cerebellar tumours to be a rare occurrence, while others (Lereboullet, 1932; Martin and Lemmen, 1952; Kernohan and Sayre, 1952) regard it as not infrequent. The demonstration of deposits of calcium in posterior fossa tumours is important not only in localising the lesions and in planning subsequent radiological investigations, but also in suggesting the pathological type of tumour. It is proposed, therefore, to record our experiences in this connection. Between 1943 and 1954, 82 cases of verified posterior fossa tumour have been investigated and treated in the Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Neurosurgery of the Dunedin Hospital. Radiological evidence of calcification was confirmed by microscopical examination of the tumour in five cases. In three other instances pathological examination failed to reveal deposits of calcium and, although it is realised that the section might not have been cut from the calcium bearing part of the tumour, these cases have been excluded. Five unverified cases of brain stem tumour, of which one showed radiological calcification, have also been rejected.