Brain tumor CT: Difference between revisions

	Brain tumor Microchapters
Patient Information
Overview
Classification Adult brain tumors Glioblastoma multiforme Oligodendroglioma Meningioma Hemangioblastoma Pituitary adenoma Schwannoma Primary CNS lymphoma Childhood brain tumors Pilocytic astrocytoma Medulloblastoma Ependymoma Craniopharyngioma Pinealoma Metastasis Lung cancer Breast cancer Melanoma Gastrointestinal tract cancer Renal cell carcinoma Osteoblastoma Head and neck cancer Neuroblastoma Lymphoma Prostate cancer
Causes
Differentiating Brain Tumor from other Diseases

Revision as of 20:35, 20 August 2015

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Imaging plays a central role in the diagnosis of brain tumors.

Benign brain tumors often show up as hypodense (darker than brain tissue) mass lesions on cranial CT-scans. Contrast agent uptake, sometimes in characteristic patterns, can be demonstrated on either CT or MRI-scans in most malignant primary and metastatic brain tumors. This is due to the fact that these tumors disrupt the normal functioning of the blood-brain barrier and lead to an increase in its permeability.

The speed of contrast-enhanced CT is desirable for evaluating clinically unstable patients. CT is superior for detecting calcification, skull lesions, and hyperacute hemorrhage (bleeding less than 24-hours old) and helps direct differential diagnosis as well as immediate management.

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 *Benign brain tumors often show up as hypodense (darker than brain tissue) mass lesions on cranial CT-scans. [[Contrast agent]] uptake, sometimes in characteristic patterns, can be demonstrated on either CT or MRI-scans in most malignant primary and metastatic brain tumors.  This is due to the fact that these tumors disrupt the normal functioning of the [[blood-brain barrier]] and lead to an increase in its [[permeability]].
-*Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have complementary roles in the diagnosis of CNS neoplasms.<ref> Hutter A, Schwetye KE, Bierhals AJ, et al.: Brain neoplasms: epidemiology, diagnosis, and prospects for cost-effective imaging. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 13 (2): 237-50, x-xi, 2003. </ref> <ref> Ricci PE: Imaging of adult brain tumors. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 9 (4): 651-69, 1999. </ref>The speed of CT is desirable for evaluating clinically unstable patients. CT is superior for detecting calcification, skull lesions, and hyperacute hemorrhage (bleeding less than 24-hours old) and helps direct differential diagnosis as well as immediate management.
+*The speed of contrast-enhanced CT is desirable for evaluating clinically unstable patients. CT is superior for detecting calcification, skull lesions, and hyperacute hemorrhage (bleeding less than 24-hours old) and helps direct differential diagnosis as well as immediate management.
 ==References==