Diagnosis of Brain Cancer, Brain Cancer

Diagnosis

If a person has symptoms that suggest brain cancer may be a possibility, the doctor may perform one or more of the following procedures:

·         Physical exam—the doctor checks general signs of health.

·         Neurologic exam—the doctor 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 brain cancer.

·         CT scan—an x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the head. The patient may receive an injection of a special dye so the brain shows up clearly in the pictures. The pictures can show tumors in the brain.

·         MRI—a powerful magnet linked to a computer makes detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed. Sometimes a special dye is injected to help show differences in the tissues of the brain. The pictures can show a tumor or other problem in the brain cancer.

The doctor may ask for other tests to help determine if brain cancer is a possibility:

·         Angiogram—Dye injected into the bloodstream flows into the blood vessels in the brain to make them show up on an x-ray. If a tumor is present, the doctor may be able to see it on the x-ray.

·         Skull x-ray—Some types of brain tumors cause calcium deposits in the brain cancer or changes in the bones of the skull. With an x-ray, the doctor can check for these changes.

·         Spinal tap—the doctor may remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that fills the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord). This procedure is performed with local anesthesia. The doctor uses a long, thin needle to remove fluid from the spinal column. A spinal tap takes about 30 minutes. The patient must lie flat for several hours afterward to keep from getting a headache. A laboratory checks the fluid for cancer cells or other signs of problems.