Cyst with a mural nodule tumor of the brain

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the imaging findings of lesions that present as cyst with a mural nodule tumor (CMNT). CMNT is a subtype pattern of intra-axial enhancement in central nervous system tumors, typical of a variety of brain neoplasms, including, as the most common, hemangioblastoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, ganglioglioma and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma and as less common tanycytic ependymoma, intraparenchymal schwannoma, desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma and cystic metastasis. A retrospective design was chosen given the rarity of CMNT. Relevant cases were obtained retrospectively to review the different lesions that can present with the appearance of CMNT.The purpose of this article is to illustrate the imaging findings of lesions that present as cyst with a mural nodule tumor (CMNT). CMNT is a subtype pattern of intra-axial enhancement in central nervous system tumors, typical of a variety of brain neoplasms, including, as the most common, hemangioblastoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, ganglioglioma and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma and as less common tanycytic ependymoma, intraparenchymal schwannoma, desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma and cystic metastasis. A retrospective design was chosen given the rarity of CMNT. Relevant cases were obtained retrospectively to review the different lesions that can present with the appearance of CMNT. © 2012 International Cancer Imaging Society