MRI CAMRT Pathology Exam Questions
and Answers 100% Correct and Verified
Abscess (brain): definition and imaging appearance on T1, T2, CE, and DWI -
CORRECT ANSWER-Collection of pus. Mass effect and extensive surrounding edema.
T1: hypointense to grey matter
T2: hyperintense to grey matter with surrounding edema.
CE MRI: ring-like enhancement
DWI shows an abscess having a high DWI signal with corresponding low signal on the
ADC map.
Avascular Necrosis (AVN) - CORRECT ANSWER-T1: necrotic area is hypointense
T2: hyperintense bone marrow edema
Ischemic area remains hypointense.
Double line sign. Hypointense outer line due to sclerosis and fibrosis and a
hyperintense inner line.
Acoustic neuroma: AKA? Benign or malignant? Appearance on T1, T2, CE? -
CORRECT ANSWER-AKA vestibular schwanoma
Benign tumour of schwann cells covering the vestibule portion of the 8th cranial nerve
(vestibulocochlear nerve). Seen in the cerebellopontine angle cistern
T1: isointense to slightly hypointense
T1 CE: hyperintense enhancement
T2: Hyperintence
Agenesis of the corpus callosum: definition and appearance - CORRECT ANSWER-the
congenital absence of corpus callosum which may be partial or complete due to an
insult occurring prior to 10th week gestation.
Elevated 3rd ventricle, noticeable separation of the lateral ventricles, partial or complete
absence of the corpus callosum and dysplasia of the cerebellum. Ventricles may be
enlarged
Alzheimer's disease: Appearance, and spectroscopy - CORRECT ANSWER-Diffuse
cortical atrophy, most prominent in the temporal lobes.
Hippocampal atrophy may be seen
Increase in the size of the ventricles, sulci, sylvian fissures, and total CSF volume.
,Reduced levels of N-acetyl asparate (NAA)
Increased levels of myoinositol
Aneurysm (brain): causes, location, T1, T2 appearance - CORRECT ANSWER-Berry
aneurysms are small saccular aneurysms that commonly form on th earteries of the
COW. Can be associated with PKD and coarctation of the aorta.
Often asymptomatic/incidental finding. Often rupture and cause subarachnoid
hemorrhage.
T2: Rounded lesion with internal signal void.
T1: partially thorombosed aneurysms display high T1 signal or an onion skin
appearance due to multiple layers of thrombus of different ages.
Aqueduct Stenosis - CORRECT ANSWER-Better delineates the extent of obstructive
hydrocephalus, with an enlargement (often marked) of the lateral and third ventricles.
The aqueduct may show funnelling superiorly. The 4th ventricle is not dilated.
sagittal T2: the absence of flow-void signal intensity at the aqueductal level has been
suggested as a sign of aqueductal stenosis.
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) - CORRECT ANSWER-a congenital vascular
malformation that is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in
the brain.
Appears as a "collection of worms"
T1 and T2: serpentine appearing vessels with signal variations (flow voids).
Astrocytoma - CORRECT ANSWER-Most are located above the tentorium.
malignant
T1: hypointense
T2: hyperintense
T1 CE: enhancement
FLAIR: hyperintense
Edema and mass effect may be seen.
Cavernous angioma - CORRECT ANSWER-Cavernous angioma is a vascular
malformation consisting of variable sized inter-capillary spaces, sinusoids, and larger
cavernous spaces with no normal intervening brain tissue.
Seizures and neurological deficit. Prone to thrombosis and hemorrhage.
, Slow flow lesions therefore not routinely identified at cerebral angiography.
T2* for detecting blood breakdown products
Black halo on T2 due to peripherally deposited hemosiderin deposits which causes
significant T2 shortening.
Chiari Malformation - CORRECT ANSWER-Chiari I: malformation: herniation of the
cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum.
Chiari II: cerebellar hypoplasia, caudal displacement and narrowing of the 4th ventricle,
90% have hydrocephalus, presentation in early childhood.
Decent of cerebellar tonsils .5 mm below foramen magnum. Often an associated syrinx,
and hydrocephalus.
Arachnoid Cyst - CORRECT ANSWER-Benign.
extraaxial, CSF-filled fluid mass that does not communicate with the ventricles.
T1: hypointense
T2: hyperintense
Colloid cyst - CORRECT ANSWER-Typically arise in the anterior aspect of the 3rd
ventricle
T1: hyperintense
T2: hypointense most are of low T2/T2* signal (short T2), related to thick "motor oil"
consistency fluid
Dandy-Walker malformation - CORRECT ANSWER-Non-communicating type of
hydrocephalus.
Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) is the most common posterior fossa malformation,
characterized by the triad of:
hypoplasia of the vermis and cephalad rotation of the vermian remnant
cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle extending posteriorly
enlarged posterior fossa with torcular-lambdoid inversion (the torcula lying above the
level of the lambdoid due to abnormally high tentorium)
T1 hypointense
T2 hyperintese
Encephalitis - CORRECT ANSWER-T1: hypointense areas of edema
and Answers 100% Correct and Verified
Abscess (brain): definition and imaging appearance on T1, T2, CE, and DWI -
CORRECT ANSWER-Collection of pus. Mass effect and extensive surrounding edema.
T1: hypointense to grey matter
T2: hyperintense to grey matter with surrounding edema.
CE MRI: ring-like enhancement
DWI shows an abscess having a high DWI signal with corresponding low signal on the
ADC map.
Avascular Necrosis (AVN) - CORRECT ANSWER-T1: necrotic area is hypointense
T2: hyperintense bone marrow edema
Ischemic area remains hypointense.
Double line sign. Hypointense outer line due to sclerosis and fibrosis and a
hyperintense inner line.
Acoustic neuroma: AKA? Benign or malignant? Appearance on T1, T2, CE? -
CORRECT ANSWER-AKA vestibular schwanoma
Benign tumour of schwann cells covering the vestibule portion of the 8th cranial nerve
(vestibulocochlear nerve). Seen in the cerebellopontine angle cistern
T1: isointense to slightly hypointense
T1 CE: hyperintense enhancement
T2: Hyperintence
Agenesis of the corpus callosum: definition and appearance - CORRECT ANSWER-the
congenital absence of corpus callosum which may be partial or complete due to an
insult occurring prior to 10th week gestation.
Elevated 3rd ventricle, noticeable separation of the lateral ventricles, partial or complete
absence of the corpus callosum and dysplasia of the cerebellum. Ventricles may be
enlarged
Alzheimer's disease: Appearance, and spectroscopy - CORRECT ANSWER-Diffuse
cortical atrophy, most prominent in the temporal lobes.
Hippocampal atrophy may be seen
Increase in the size of the ventricles, sulci, sylvian fissures, and total CSF volume.
,Reduced levels of N-acetyl asparate (NAA)
Increased levels of myoinositol
Aneurysm (brain): causes, location, T1, T2 appearance - CORRECT ANSWER-Berry
aneurysms are small saccular aneurysms that commonly form on th earteries of the
COW. Can be associated with PKD and coarctation of the aorta.
Often asymptomatic/incidental finding. Often rupture and cause subarachnoid
hemorrhage.
T2: Rounded lesion with internal signal void.
T1: partially thorombosed aneurysms display high T1 signal or an onion skin
appearance due to multiple layers of thrombus of different ages.
Aqueduct Stenosis - CORRECT ANSWER-Better delineates the extent of obstructive
hydrocephalus, with an enlargement (often marked) of the lateral and third ventricles.
The aqueduct may show funnelling superiorly. The 4th ventricle is not dilated.
sagittal T2: the absence of flow-void signal intensity at the aqueductal level has been
suggested as a sign of aqueductal stenosis.
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) - CORRECT ANSWER-a congenital vascular
malformation that is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in
the brain.
Appears as a "collection of worms"
T1 and T2: serpentine appearing vessels with signal variations (flow voids).
Astrocytoma - CORRECT ANSWER-Most are located above the tentorium.
malignant
T1: hypointense
T2: hyperintense
T1 CE: enhancement
FLAIR: hyperintense
Edema and mass effect may be seen.
Cavernous angioma - CORRECT ANSWER-Cavernous angioma is a vascular
malformation consisting of variable sized inter-capillary spaces, sinusoids, and larger
cavernous spaces with no normal intervening brain tissue.
Seizures and neurological deficit. Prone to thrombosis and hemorrhage.
, Slow flow lesions therefore not routinely identified at cerebral angiography.
T2* for detecting blood breakdown products
Black halo on T2 due to peripherally deposited hemosiderin deposits which causes
significant T2 shortening.
Chiari Malformation - CORRECT ANSWER-Chiari I: malformation: herniation of the
cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum.
Chiari II: cerebellar hypoplasia, caudal displacement and narrowing of the 4th ventricle,
90% have hydrocephalus, presentation in early childhood.
Decent of cerebellar tonsils .5 mm below foramen magnum. Often an associated syrinx,
and hydrocephalus.
Arachnoid Cyst - CORRECT ANSWER-Benign.
extraaxial, CSF-filled fluid mass that does not communicate with the ventricles.
T1: hypointense
T2: hyperintense
Colloid cyst - CORRECT ANSWER-Typically arise in the anterior aspect of the 3rd
ventricle
T1: hyperintense
T2: hypointense most are of low T2/T2* signal (short T2), related to thick "motor oil"
consistency fluid
Dandy-Walker malformation - CORRECT ANSWER-Non-communicating type of
hydrocephalus.
Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) is the most common posterior fossa malformation,
characterized by the triad of:
hypoplasia of the vermis and cephalad rotation of the vermian remnant
cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle extending posteriorly
enlarged posterior fossa with torcular-lambdoid inversion (the torcula lying above the
level of the lambdoid due to abnormally high tentorium)
T1 hypointense
T2 hyperintese
Encephalitis - CORRECT ANSWER-T1: hypointense areas of edema
