Ajay Puri MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Shan Li MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bharanidhar Chandrasekaran MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

1. To familiarize the viewers with various causes of meningeal enhancement in brain and spine.  2. Role of imaging in these cases and impact on management.  

 1. Relevant anatomy of the meninges, role of blood brain barrier, pathophysiology of meningeal enhancement in various disease states and differentiating pachymeningeal from leptomeningeal enhancement    2. MRI sequences, parameters and protocols. 3. Sample cases of common, uncommon and rare causes of pachymeningeal and leptomeningeal enhancement in brain and spine. Imaging with brief review of clinical presentation, management and pathological correlation.  

There are noninfectious and nonneoplastic causes of leptomeningeal enhancement and interpretation of the images should be in conjunction with the clinical context. In meningitis, the diagnosis is usually clinical but the role of imaging is to exclude an underlying mass lesion and to demonstrate any potential complications. It is essential to recognize meningeal carcinomatosis which usually carries grave prognosis but with improving cancer survival we expect to see an increase in these cases.

Puri, A, Li, S, Chandrasekaran, B, Meningeal Enhancement: What Every Radiologist Should Know.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11001766.html