Brain tumor CT

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

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

Overview

Imaging plays a central role in the diagnosis of brain tumors. On head CT scan, brain cancer is characterized by hypodense mass lesions.

CT

• 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 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.