Primary Jugular Foramen Meningioma: Imaging Appearance and Differentiating Features

OBJECTIVE. Primary jugular foramen meningiomas behave differently from meningiomas arising elsewhere. The differences have important clinical, imaging, and surgical implications. We reviewed the imaging appearances of primary jugular foramen meningiomas and evaluated them for features that might assist in differentiating them from other common jugular foramen lesions.MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective review identified five cases of primary jugular foramen meningioma. We defined it as primary when it was centered in the jugular foramen and secondary when it was centered in the posterior fossa with secondary extension into the jugular foramen. Secondary jugular foramen meningiomas were excluded from this study. Eight cases of jugular foramen paraganglioma and 10 cases of jugular foramen schwannoma were reviewed for comparison.RESULTS. Primary meningioma was characterized by centrifugal infiltration surrounding the skull base (5/5), a permeative–sclerotic appearance to the bone margins of the jugular fo...