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Analysis of institutional authors

Pascual, JmCorresponding Author

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August 23, 2022
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Duct-like Recess in the Infundibular Portion of Third Ventricle Craniopharyngiomas: An MRI Sign Identifying the Papillary Type

Publicated to:American Journal Of Neuroradiology. 43 (9): 1333-1340 - 2022-08-11 43(9), DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7602

Authors: Pascual, J M; Carrasco, R; Barrios, L; Prieto, R

Affiliations

Princesa Univ Hosp, Dept Neurosurg, C Diego Leon 62, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Puerta Hierro Univ Hosp, Dept Neurosurg, Madrid, Spain - Author
Ramon & Cajal Univ Hosp, Dept Neurosurg, Madrid, Spain - Author
Spanish Natl Res Council, Comp Ctr, Statist Dept, Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Papillary craniopharyngiomas (PCPs) are particularly challenging lesions requiring accurate diagnosis to plan the best therapy. Our aim was to define a narrow duct-like recess identified on MR imaging at the base of papillary craniopharyngiomas with a strict third ventricle location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A duct-like recess at the infundibular portion of craniopharyngiomas was observed on conventional T1WI and T2WI in 3 strict third ventricle papillary craniopharyngiomas in our craniopharyngioma series (n = 125). We systematically investigated this finding on the MR imaging of 2582 craniopharyngiomas and 10 other categories of third ventricle tumors (n = 690) published in the modern era (1986-2020). The diagnostic value and significance of this finding are addressed. RESULTS: The duct-like recess was recognized in 52 papillary craniopharyngiomas, including 3 of our own cases, as a narrow canal shaped cavity invaginated at the tumor undersurface, just behind the optic chiasm. This structure largely involves papillary craniopharyngiomas with a strict third ventricle topography (96%), follows the same diagonal trajectory as the pituitary stalk, and finishes at a closed end. The duct-like recess sign identifies the papillary craniopharyngioma type with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 38% in the overall craniopharyngioma population. This finding can also establish the strictly intra-third ventricle location of the lesion with a 90% specificity and 33% sensitivity. These recesses appear as hypointense circular spots on axial/coronal T1WI and T2WI. Their content apparently corresponds to CSF freely flowing within the suprasellar cistern. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a duct-like recess at the infundibular portion of a third ventricle tumor represents a distinctive hallmark of papillary craniopharyngiomas that can be used as a simple MR imaging sign to reliably diagnose these lesions.

Keywords

CraniopharyngiomaHumansMagnetic resonance imagingPituitary glandPituitary neoplasmsThird ventricleTopographic diagnosis

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal American Journal Of Neuroradiology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 3.95, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Aug 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-08-07, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 6
  • Europe PMC: 4

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-08-07:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 3.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 5 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 16.25.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 27 (Altmetric).

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Pascual Segarra, María) .

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Pascual Segarra, María.