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Table 1 Differentiating features for peripheral nerve sheath tumours

From: Peroneal nerve: Normal anatomy and pathologic findings on routine MRI of the knee

Schwannoma-specific features

Neurofibroma-specific features

Non-specific features benign PNST

Malignant PNST

  

Peripherally or centrally entering and exiting nerve

Size >5 cm

Fascicular appearance on T2-WI

 

Cystic areas On T2-WI

Heterogeneous appearance on T2-WI and T1-WI

Thin hyperintense rim on T2-WI

Target sign on T2-WI

 

Infiltrative margin

Diffuse enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-WI

Central enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-WI

Peripheral enhancement on fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T1-WI

Heterogeneous enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-WI

  1. Fascicular appearance: multiple small ringlike structures (with peripheral higher signal intensity) on axial T2-WI or intermediate-WI
  2. Thin hyperintense rim: rim is less than one quarter of the diameter of the lesion
  3. Target sign: a central hypointense focus with a peripheral hyperintense rim on T2-WI, the central focus making up less than three quarters of the diameter of the lesion