Title: Brain Tumor Imaging 101<br/>Author: Danya Khoujah<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/739/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><div>
Although MRI is more sensitive for identifying tumors of the CNS, CT is usually the first line imaging modality in the ED. Some pearls:</div>
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Hyperattenuation = bright = dense (blood)</li>
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Hypoattenuation = dark = radiolucent (fluid, air, lipid, scar)</li>
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Masses that are darker + increased volume or mass effect = edema (image 1)</li>
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Masses that are darker + decreased volume = scar tissue or atrophy (image 2)</li>
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Masses that are bright + edema = hemorrhage (image 3)</li>
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Adding IV contrast improves detection of tumors: abnormal enhancement from disruption of blood brain barrier, necrosis or increased vascularity. (Image 4)</li>
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<img alt="Image 1 Courtesy of Radiopedia.org" src="http://umem.org/files/uploads/content/image%201.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" /><img alt="Image 2: courtesy of Dr Chris O'Donnell, Radiopaedia.org" src="http://umem.org/files/uploads/content/Image%202%20.jpg" style="width: 130px; height: 198px;" /><img alt="Image 3: courtesy of Dr David Cuete, Radiopaedia.org" src="http://umem.org/files/uploads/content/image%203haemorrhagic-brain-metastases.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" /><img alt="Image 4: Courtesy of David Kernick, and Stuart Williams Br J Gen Pract2011;61:409-411" src="http://umem.org/files/uploads/content/image%204.png" style="width: 300px; height: 188px;" /></p>
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<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?-->Klein JP, Dietrich J. Neuroradiologic Pearls for Neuro-oncology. <em>Continuum</em> 2017;23(6):1619-1634.</p>
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