Diagnosis of Brain cancer
Diagnostic Test list for Brain cancer:
The list of medical tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Brain cancer
includes:
Brain cancer Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Tests and diagnosis discussion for Brain cancer:
NINDS Brain and Spinal Tumors Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)
The
first test to diagnose brain and spinal column tumors is a neurological
examination. Special imaging techniques (computed tomography, and magnetic
resonance imaging, positron emission tomography) are also employed.
Laboratory tests include the EEG and the spinal tap. A biopsy, a surgical
procedure in which a sample of tissue is taken from a suspected tumor,
helps doctors diagnose the type of tumor.
(Source: excerpt from NINDS Brain and Spinal Tumors Information Page: NINDS)
What You Need To Know About Brain Tumors: NCI (Excerpt)
To find the cause of a person's symptoms, the doctor asks
about the patient's personal and family medical history and
performs a complete physical examination. In addition to
checking general signs of health, the doctor does a neurologic
exam. This includes checks for alertness, muscle strength,
coordination, reflexes, and response to pain. The doctor also
examines the eyes to look for swelling caused by a tumor
pressing on the nerve that connects the eye and the brain.
Depending on the results of the physical and neurologic
examinations, the doctor may request one or both of the
following:
-
A CT
(or CAT) scan is a series of detailed pictures of
the brain. The pictures are created by a computer linked to
an x-ray
machine. In some cases, a special dye is injected into a
vein before the scan. The dye helps to show differences in
the tissues of the brain.
-
MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging) gives pictures of the brain,
using a powerful magnet linked to a computer. MRI is
especially useful in diagnosing brain tumors because it can
"see" through the bones of the skull to the tissue
underneath. A special dye may be used to enhance the
likelihood of detecting a brain tumor.
The doctor may also request other tests such as:
-
A skull x-ray can show changes in the bones of the skull
caused by a tumor. It can also show calcium deposits, which
are present in some types of brain tumors.
-
A brain scan reveals areas of abnormal growth in the
brain and records them on special film. A small amount of a
radioactive material is injected into a vein. This dye is
absorbed by the tumor, and the growth shows up on the film.
(The radiation leaves the body within 6 hours and is not
dangerous.)
-
An angiogram ,
or arteriogram, is a series of x-rays taken after a special
dye is injected into an artery (usually in the area where
the abdomen joins the top of the leg). The dye, which flows
through the blood vessels of the brain, can be seen on the
x-rays. These x-rays can show the tumor and blood vessels
that lead to it.
-
A myelogram
is an x-ray of the spine. A special dye is injected into the
cerebrospinal fluid in the spine, and the patient is tilted
to allow the dye to mix with the fluid. This test may be
done when the doctor suspects a tumor in the spinal
cord.
(Source: excerpt from
What You Need To Know About Brain Tumors: NCI)
Diagnosis of Brain cancer: medical news summaries:
The following medical news items
are relevant to diagnosis and misdiagnosis issues for Brain cancer:
Diagnostic Tests for Brain cancer: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about diagnostis of Brain cancer.
Introduction: Malignant Neoplasms:
Diagnostic methods
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
A thorough medical history and physical examination should precede sophisticated diagnostic procedures. Useful tests for the early detection and staging of tumors include X-ray, endoscopy, isotope scan, computed tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging, but the single most important diagnostic tool is a biopsy for direct histologic study of tumor tissue. Biopsy tissue samples can be taken by curettage, fluid aspiration (pleural effusion), fine-needle aspiration biopsy (breast), dermal punch (skin or mouth), endoscopy (rectal polyps), and surgical excision (visceral tumors and nodes).
An important tumor marker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), although not diagnostic by itself, can signal malignancies of the large bowel, stomach, pancreas, lungs, and breasts. CEA titers range from normal (less than 5 ng) to suspicious (5 to 10 ng) to suspect (over 10 ng). CEA serves many valuable purposes:
❑as a baseline during chemotherapy to evaluate the extent of tumor spread
❑to regulate drug dosage
❑to prognosticate after surgery or radiation
❑to detect tumor recurrence.
Although no more specific than CEA, alpha-fetoprotein — a fetal antigen uncommon in adults — can suggest testicular, ovarian, gastric, and hepatocellular cancers. Beta human chorionic gonadotropin may point to testicular cancer or choriocarcinoma. Other commonly used tumor markers include prostate-specific antigen to detect and monitor prostatic cancer, and CA-125, useful for monitoring ovarian, colorectal, and gastric cancers.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Malignant brain tumors:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
CONFIRMING DIAGNOSIS In many cases, a definitive diagnosis follows a tissue biopsy performed by stereotactic surgery. In this procedure, a head ring is affixed to the skull, and an excisional device is guided to the lesion by a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Other diagnostic tools include a patient history, a neurologic assessment, skull X-rays, a brain scan, a CT scan, MRI, and cerebral angiography. An EEG may reveal focal abnormalities. Lumbar puncture shows increased pressure and protein levels, decreased glucose levels and, occasionally, tumor cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Malignant spinal neoplasms:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
❑Spinal and lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging confirm spinal tumor.
❑ X-rays show distortions of the intervertebral foramina; changes in the vertebrae or collapsed areas in the vertebral body; and localized enlargement of the spinal canal, indicating an adjacent block.
❑ Myelography identifies the level of the lesion by outlining it if the tumor is causing partial obstruction; it shows anatomic relationship to the cord and the dura. If obstruction is complete, the injected dye can't flow past the tumor. (This study is dangerous if cord compression is nearly complete because withdrawal or escape of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) will allow the tumor to exert greater pressure against the cord.)
❑ Radioisotope bone scan demonstrates metastatic invasion of the vertebrae by showing a characteristic increase in osteoblastic activity.
❑ Computed tomography scan shows cord compression and tumor location.
❑ Frozen section biopsy at surgery identifies the tissue type.
❑ Lumbar puncture may be normal, abnormal, or nonspecific. It may show clear yellow CSF as a result of increased protein levels if the flow is completely blocked. If the flow is partially blocked, protein levels rise, but the fluid is only slightly yellow in proportion to the CSF protein level. Cytology of the CSF may show malignant cells of metastatic carcinoma.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Brain tumors, malignant:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
In many cases, a definitive diagnosis follows a tissue biopsy performed by stereotactic surgery. In this procedure, a head ring is affixed to the skull, and an excisional device is guided to the lesion by a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Other diagnostic tools include a patient history, a neurologic assessment, skull X-rays, a brain scan, a CT scan, MRI, and cerebral angiography. Lumbar puncture shows increased pressure and protein levels, decreased glucose levels and, occasionally, tumor cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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