Clinical Series: Five Simple MR Imaging Features to Identify Tumor Mimics

Intracranial mass lesions that mimic brain tumors can be difficult to differentiate from true brain tumors based on imaging or clinical findings. Accurate preoperative differentiation between the 2 entities is essential for proper surgical and medical management of patients. In this review, we presented 5 simple MR imaging features, T1 hyperintensity (especially gyral based), smooth rim of T2 hypointensity, homogeneously reduced diffusion, leading-edge reduced diffusion, and incomplete rim enhancement in a cystic mass, that can be used to correctly identify brain tumor mimics and, hence, avoid erroneous diagnosis of brain tumor and potentially subject patients to unnecessary invasive surgical intervention.