What tests should be done for glioma

Doctors usually diagnose diseases by asking patients about their basic conditions and symptoms, but if you want to accurately diagnose a disease, relevant examinations are essential. Glioma is a brain tumor, and it is also necessary to do corresponding examinations to confirm the diagnosis. The following editor will lead you to learn what examinations should be done for glioma.

What tests are done for glioma:

Radiological examination: including skull plain film, ventriculography, computer tomography, etc. Skull plain film can show increased intracranial pressure, tumor calcification and displacement of pineal calcification, etc. Ventriculography can show cerebral vascular displacement and tumor vascular conditions, etc. These abnormal changes are different in different types of tumors in different locations, which can help locate and sometimes even qualitatively identify the disease. In particular, CT scans have the greatest diagnostic value. With intravenous contrast agent enhanced scanning, the positioning accuracy is almost 100%, and the qualitative diagnosis accuracy can reach more than 90%. It can show the location, range, shape, brain tissue reaction, and ventricle compression and displacement of the tumor. However, it still needs to be combined with comprehensive clinical considerations to make a clear diagnosis.

MRI: It is more accurate in diagnosing brain tumors than CT, and the images are clearer. It can detect tiny tumors that CT cannot show.

Positron emission tomography can produce images similar to CT, and can observe the growth and metabolism of tumors and distinguish benign from malignant tumors.

Cerebrospinal fluid examination: Lumbar puncture usually increases pressure. Some tumors, such as those located on the brain surface or in the ventricles, may increase the amount of cerebrospinal fluid protein and white blood cell count. Some tumor cells may be found. However, if the intracranial pressure is significantly increased, lumbar puncture may promote brain herniation. Therefore, it is generally only performed when necessary, such as when it is necessary to distinguish inflammation or bleeding. If the pressure increases significantly, the operation should be cautious and do not release too much cerebrospinal fluid. Mannitol drip is given after surgery and careful observation is required.

Ultrasound examination: It can help determine the side and observe whether there is hydrocephalus. For infants, B-mode ultrasound scans can be performed through the anterior fontanelle to show tumor images and other pathological changes.

Electroencephalogram examination: On the one hand, the electroencephalogram changes of gliomas are limited to the changes in brain waves at the tumor site. On the other hand, there are general and widely distributed changes in frequency and amplitude. These are affected by the size of the tumor, infiltration, degree of brain edema, and increased intracranial pressure. Shallow tumors are prone to localized abnormalities, while deep tumors have fewer localized changes. In more benign astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, etc., localized delta waves are mainly manifested, and some epileptic waveforms such as spikes or sharp waves can be seen. Large glioblastoma multiforme can show extensive delta waves, which can sometimes only be determined on one side.

Radioisotope scanning: (Y-ray brain map): Tumors that grow fast and have abundant blood supply have high blood-brain barrier permeability and high isotope absorption rate. For example, glioblastoma multiforme shows isotope concentration images, and there may be low-density areas in the middle due to necrosis and cysts. It needs to be distinguished from metastatic tumors based on its shape and multiplicity. More benign gliomas such as astrocytomas have lower concentrations, which are often slightly higher than the surrounding brain tissues, and the images are not clear, and some may be negative findings.