“How many tests do brain tumor evaluations involve?”
I'm 38 years old, and I'll be getting a brain tumor evaluation this month. My doctor mentioned a CT scan but I would like to know if he will be doing other tests as well. Will one test be enough?
6 Answers
A CT scan is a good screening test. It is possible for it to miss something small. The test of choice depends on the symptoms necessitating the work up. MRIs show more detail within the brain that a CT. In addition, contrast administration during CT and MRI add further to the completeness of the examination.
Best to you.
Best to you.
The CT is helpful but mostly shows calcification and bone details, MRI is more expansive but shows better tumor and brain or nerve details.
Oftentimes a CT scan will reveal whether or not there is a mass lesion. To better evaluate that lesion an MRI scan may be done with contrast material. Based on the results of this test further diagnostic testing would be recommended or needed. This may include further scans of other portions of your body or it may require a surgical procedure to biopsy or remove the tumor depending on the evaluation done at that time.
The standard investigation for a brain tumor is an MRI unless you have something like a pacemaker that precludes having an MRI. Many things can be done with an MRI including 3D acquisition in order to plan treatment or accurately follow possible growth or treatment response. MR Spectroscopy done in the MRI machine to measure chemicals in the tumor to help determine what it might be. Functional MRI can test for speech or movement function near the tumor. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) can help show brain connections and how they may be displaced by the tumor. Not all of these MR I tests are usually done in one sitting since it would take too long. CT is a much more rudimentary test. CT angiography (CTA) can help show tumor blood supply and nearby blood vessels. If I am ordering an exam to rule out or follow a brain tumor I would usually go straight to MRI. MRI usually gives you a pretty reliable idea of what a tumor is but tissue may be needed to be sure. Personally I do not favor biopsies very much which I view as surgical risk without surgical benefit and usually advocate removal if at all possible. Some tumors such as benign appearing meningiomas can be observed over time on imaging without intervention if not symptomatic.
A brain MRI may be all that you need.
Unless there is a reason you cannot have an MRI, most tumors also require one to best visualize the tumor. Sometimes more advanced imaging is also necessary.
