Atypical Virchow-Robin SpacesMimicking Cystic Primary Brain Tumor – Clinical Report and Literature Review
Arq. bras. neurocir; 39 (4), 2020
Publication year: 2020
The Virchow-Robin spaces (VRSs), which are often incidentally observed in modern
structural neuroimaging examinations, are small cystic cavities that usually surround
the small arteries and arterioles at the level of basal ganglia, the anterior perforated
substance and the thalamic-mesencephalic junction. Typically, they have similar
physicochemical characteristics to cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and there is no contrast
enhancement on brain CT andMRI images. Its real meaning is unknown, although some
contemporary studies have suggested that it might be related to certain traumatic
brain injury or several other central nervous system (CNS) disorders, as degenerative
diseases. Occasionally, some wide and atypical VRS may be mistaken for primary cystic
brain tumors, especially in the context of large and symptomatic lesions, multiple
clustered cysts, cortical lesions and if there is adjacent reactive gliosis. The present
paper reports four patients who were affected by atypical VRS mimicking brain tumors
that required imaging follow-up or even a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis or to indicate
the correct approach. Although it is not so unusual, one of them occurred concomitantly
and adjacent to a diffuse glioma (co-deleted 1p19q, WHO-GII).