Central Neurocytoma: Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

Central neurocytoma is a very rare intraventricular brain tumor that has a favorable prognosis. It occurs mostly in young adults and usually located in the lateral ventricles near to foramina Monro. We report the radiological findings of a case of 39-year-old woman with acute headache. A Computed Tomographic (CT) showed a mass in the midline of the lateral ventricles with extension to the foramen of Monro. The tumor was 28x38x48 mm in size. At CT, the tumor has heavy calcifications on noncontrast scans. T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, showed a tumor of mixed signal intensity. T2-weighted MR images revealed inhomogeneous signal intensity. The lesion enhanced homogeneously after administration of contrast material. The tumor was attached to the septum pellucidum and to the lateral walls of the lateral ventricles. Tumor totally resected, histopathologic sections of the lesion was reported as Central neurocytoma. Postoperative period was good. Central neurocytoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of intraventricular brain tumors like oligodendroglioma, choroids plexus papilloma, ependymoma, subependymoma, subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, and meningioma.