What tests are used to find and diagnose adult brain tumors?
Tests that examine the brain and
spinal cord are used to detect (find) adult brain tumor. The following tests and
procedures may be used:
CT scan (CAT scan): A
procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body,
taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an
x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the
organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed
tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet,
radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of the brain
and spinal cord. A substance called gadolinium is injected into the patient
through a vein. The gadolinium collects around the cancer cells so they show up
brighter in the picture. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic
resonance imaging (NMRI).
Adult brain tumor is diagnosed and removed in surgery.
If a brain tumor is suspected, a biopsy is done by removing part of the skull
and using a needle to remove a sample of the brain tissue. A pathologist views
the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. If cancer cells are
found, the doctor will remove as much tumor as safely possible during the same
surgery. An MRI may then be done to determine if any cancer cells remain after
surgery. Tests are also done to find out the grade of the tumor.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which the person has seizures. There are two kinds of seizures, focal and generalized. There are many causes of epilepsy. Treatment of epilepsy (seizures) depends upon the cause and type of seizures experienced.
Encephalopathy means brain disease, damage, or malfunction. Causes of encephalopathy are varied and numerous. The main symptom of encephalopathy is an altered mental state. Other symptoms include lethargy, dementia, seizures, tremors, and coma. Treatment of encephalopathy depends on the type of encephalopathy (anoxia, diabetic, Hashimoto's, hepatic, hyper - hypotensive, infectious, metabolic, infections, uremic, or Wernicke's) are examples of types of encephalopathy.
Hydronephrosis is a condition in which the kidney swells, due to a backup of urine. Hydronephrosis generally occurs with another disease.Symptoms of hydronephrosis include nausea, vomiting, urinary tract infection, fever, painful urination, increased urinary frequency and urgency, flank pain, and swelling of the abdomen. Treatment of hydronephrosis depends on the cause.
Hypothermia is having a body core temperature of less than 35 C or 95 F. Most causes of hypothermia are preventable. Risk factors for hypothermia include age, mental status, medical conditions, and medications. Symptoms of hypothermia generally depend upon the severity of the condition. Treatment depends upon the severity of hypothermia. If not treated early, hypothermia can lead to cardiac arrest, coma, or death.
Brain lesions (lesions on the brain) are caused by trauma, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancers, other diseases, stroke, bleeding, pituitary adenomas, and cerebral palsy. Symptoms of brain lesions include headache, nausea, fever, neck pain and stiffness, affected vision and speech, weakness or paralysis to one side of the body. Diagnosis of brain lesions is generally with imaging studies like CT or MRI scans. Treatment and prognosis of brain lesions depends on the cause of the lesion.
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