Brain tumours; role of CT scan in diagnosis

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted at PNS Shifa Naval Hospital Karachi over a period of four years from December 1995 to December 1999. A total of 100 patients were included who underwent computed tomography [CT] scan for suspected brain tumours. Selection criteria included those single intracranial masses labeled as brain tumour on the basis of their CT features. Multiple lesions were excluded. The patients' age ranged from 13-85 years, mean age was 43 years with male to female ratio 2 1 The common clinical presentations were headache, diplopia, seizures, personality changes, vertigo, vomiting and progressive neurological deficit. The results of our study revealed that out of hundred cases g/km as were 48, meningiomas 25, pituitary adenomas 12, craniopharyangiomas 6, pineal region tumours 4, acoustic neuromas 3 and choroid plexus papilloma 2. The aim was to first identify, recognize and locate the tumour precisely and then to see its effects on surrounding structures. The objective was to determine the preoperative diagnostic accuracy of CT in brain tumours and compare it with post- operative histopathology results. The diagnostic accuracy of CT scan was found to be 83% on an average, when correlated with histopathology