CT and MRI in the evaluation of craniospinal involvement with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia in McCune-Albright syndrome

In this study, the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of craniospinal involvement with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (PFD) in McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) and related complications were reviewed. In CT, ground-glass appearance with well-defined borders was seen, with medullary widening and cortical thinning. More rarely, cystic/necrotic areas were observed within involved bone. These lesions were seen as hypointense in T1-weighted sequences and as hyperintense in T2-weighted sequences of MRI. There was no heterogeneous contrast enhancement. Cystic/necrotic areas were seen as hyperintense images on T2-weighted sequences. While bone marrow involvement was shown more clearly with MRI, compression of cranial and spinal nerves was determined most effectively by evaluation of CT and MRI together. CT and MRI should be employed together in order to demonstrate the extent of disease, and complications of craniospinal involvement of PFD in patients with MAS.