ACCURACY OF COMPUTERISED TOMOGRAPHY IN DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN TUMOURS IN CHILDREN

Authors

  • Khalid Khan
  • Ahmed Nadeem Qureshi
  • Phool Bibi
  • Muhammad Jehanzeb

Abstract

Background: CT scan has replaced most of the invasive techniques in diagnosis of braintumours because it can accurately demonstrate, localize and characterize the brain tumours. Theobjective of this study was to observe the accuracy of CT scan in the diagnosis of brain tumoursin children by comparing it with histopathology. This descriptive case series was conducted atDepartment of Radiology, Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad from 10th March 2005 to 9thMarch 2007. Methods: Both pre and post contrast CT scan was carried out on 120 patientsreferred to Radiology Department for CT scan suspected of having brain tumours. Data of CTfindings/diagnosis of patients having brain tumours were collected on a proforma.Histopathology of specimen from operation or biopsy was carried out and compared with theCT scan diagnosis. Results: Glial tumours comprised the largest category 68 (56.67%).Medulloblastoma was 23 (19.16%) Craniopharyngioma 8 (6.63%) and Ependymoma were 6(5.0%) each. Hemangioblastoma 2 (1.67%), Choroid plexus one (0.83%) adenoma and pinealtumours were 9 (3.33%) each. As regards comparison between CT and histopathology, anagreement between the two was found in 104 (86.67%) cases whereas in 16 (13.33%) of thecases, the histopathology reports were different. In case of Astrocytomas 63 (92.64%) wereconfirmed on histopathology and 5 (7.36%) was reported differently. In Medulloblastomas 19(82.60%) were accurately diagnosed on CT scan. Sensitivity of CT scan in diagnosis of braintumours in children was 93.33%. Conclusion: CT Scan is more accurate predictor of braintumour yet it is not always 100% accurate.Keywords: CT scan, Histopathology, Paediatric tumours, Astrocytomas, Medulloblastoma

References

Young G, Torestsky JA Campbell AB. Recognition of common

childhood malignancies. Am Fam Physician 2000;61:2144–54.

Rickert CH, Paulus W. Epidemiology of central nervous system

tumors in childhood and adolescence based on the new WHO

classification. Childs Nerve Syst 2001;17:503–11.

Ahmad J, Hashmi MA, Naveed IA, Hussain A, Amin D.

Spectrum of malignancies in Faisalabad 1986-90 Pak J Pathol

;3:103–10.

Cohen KJ, Broniseer A, Glod J. Pediatric glial tumors. Curr Treat

Options Oncol 2001;2:529-36.

Walker DG, Kay AH. Diangosis and management of

astrocytoma, oligodendrogliomas and miexed gliomas. Austral

Radiol 2001;13:45–9.

Khalid MM Diagnostic accuracy of CT in brain tumors. Pak

Armed Forces Med J 2004;54(1):14–18.

Lopes MB, Laws ER Jr. Low-grade central nervous system

tumors. Neurosurg Focus 2002;12(2):E1.

Sempere AP, Porta-Etessam J, Medrano V, Garcia-Morales I,

Concepcion L, Ramos A, et al. Neuroimaging in the evaluation

of patients with non-acute headache. Cephalalgia 2005;25:30–5.

Rickert CH, Paulus W. Epidemiology of central nervous system

tumors in childhood and adolescence based on the new WHO

Classification. Childs Nerve Syst 2001;17:503–11.

Hanif G, Shafqat S, Morphological pattern and frequency of

intracranial tumor in children. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak

;14(3):150–2.

Haneef SM, Ashraf M. Childhood malignant disease at Lahore.

Pak Paed J 1980;4:170–8.

Loevner LA: Imaging features of posterior fossa neoplasms in

children at Neuroimaging Clin North Am 2001;11:527–46.

Downloads

Published

2009-06-01

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>