Two commonly used anatomical imaging tests in brain cancer diagnosis

There are many types of medical imaging examinations currently used in the clinic to diagnose brain cancer. As a patient, it is very necessary to know some knowledge about these imaging examinations and objectively consider the doctor's diagnosis in order to choose the correct treatment method. Anatomical imaging examination is a major type of medical imaging examination for brain cancer, mainly including head CT and magnetic resonance imaging.

Head CT

It can also be called X-ray computed tomography, which can be divided into plain scan and enhanced scan, and can also perform cerebrovascular imaging (CTA). This method has the advantages of being simple and fast, and can clearly show bone structure and intracranial hemorrhage. The disadvantage is that it is not as clear as magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of brain cancer. At present, it is mainly used for physical examinations, diagnosis of craniocerebral trauma and cerebrovascular diseases. It is also very necessary to perform examinations after brain cancer surgery, mainly to explore whether there are acute complications of surgery such as bleeding, infarction, brain swelling or tension pneumocephalus, and to preliminarily evaluate the scope of surgical resection.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

It can be divided into plain scan and enhanced scan. It has the highest reference value for the diagnosis of brain cancer, and its sensitivity and specificity are significantly better than CT. The disadvantages are that it takes a long time to check and cannot show the skull structure. In recent years, magnetic resonance technology has developed rapidly. In addition to traditional examination sequences, MRA (displaying cerebral blood vessels), brain perfusion imaging and diffusion tension imaging, and MRS (spectral analysis) technology have also appeared.