Extraaxial masses

Extra-axial masses of the intracranial compartment have a wide range of differentials, ranging from benign developmental cysts to malignant tumors.

Differential diagnosis

• neoplasms
  • chordoma
  • choroid plexus papilloma/carcinoma
  • cranial nerve schwannoma
  • meninges
    • meningioma
    • solitary fibrous tumor
    • hemangiopericytoma
    • metastases
  • lipoma
  • lymphoma
  • melanoma
  • musculoskeletal
    • plasmacytoma
    • primary bone tumor
    • sarcoma
  • pituitary region masses
    • pituitary macroadenoma
    • pituitary microadenoma
    • craniopharyngioma
  • pineal region masses
• developmental
  • arachnoid cyst
  • colloid cyst
  • dermoid cyst
  • epidermoid cyst
• infection/inflammation
  • sarcoidosis
  • subdural empyema
• hemorrhage
  • extradural
  • subdural
  • subarachnoid
• vascular
  • cerebral aneurysm
    • giant cerebral aneurysm
  • arteriovenous malformation