Clinical Significance of T2∗gradient-recalled Echo/susceptibility-weighted Imaging Sequences in Evaluating Superficial Siderosis in the Setting of Intracerebral Tumors: Pilocytic Astrocytoma

Abstract

Superficial siderosis is the slow accumulation of hemosiderin on the pial surfaces of the brain and spinal cord. The most common cause of intracranial superficial siderosis is secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Rarely, superficial siderosis can also be caused by tumors. Superficial siderosis presents clinically as hearing loss and gait instability that progressively worsen. The diagnosis is primarily made by magnetic resonance imaging; however, susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and T2∗ gradient echo (GRE) sequences demonstrate the highest sensitivity in detecting this condition. To the best of our knowledge, there has been only one previous case of superficial siderosis secondary to a pilocytic astrocytoma of the spine. However, we present a case of intracerebral pilocytic astrocytoma resulting in superficial siderosis, with emphasis on acquisition and use of T2∗GRE/SWI sequences.